POLICE TAKE ALL WATCHES

Chronicle (Levin), 1 November 1948, Page 5

POLICE TAKE ALL WATCHES

NEW PLYMOUTH, Oct. 31. Strict instructions that the dashboard elock and watches on the victims of the crash were to be removed and that no one other than offieials should see the times at which they stopped, were given the police party at the scene of the wreck. No information on

times was available from the police or Air Department offieials at the scene of the wreck or base camp. Information suggests that several watches stopped at ' 2.10 p.m. It is understood that the radio eompass was working and was in use. The reason for the disastrous accident is being investigated by a teani of aircraft experts from Wellington: Insti'uments not hopelessly battered have been removed from the plane and are being examined to see what light they will throw on the canses of the aceident. Heading the team is the Air Department 's Investigator of Air 'Accidents, Wing Commander IL U Kean. Others are the Assistant Chief Inspector of X.A.C., Mr. C. Jones, principal engineer of the Civil Aviation Braneh of the Air Department, Mr, W, H. .Toyner; the branch's radio surveyor, Mr. P. M. Irwin; and disti'ict surveyor, Mr. W. S. Dingle. ' f Three of the engineers eliinbed to the wreck yesterday atid after completing what investigations they could, tramped around to the Chateau Tongariro, National Parlc. One of the instrument panels, removed by Mr. .Tones on Saturday, has been sent to Wellington.