FUTILE CALL BY "AERO."

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1778, 17 June 1913, Page 6

FUTILE CALL BY "AERO."

S.S. MAORI'S MISHAP. NIWARU'S MESSAGE NOT HEARD. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Christchurch, Juno 10. When tho Maori cast a propeller blado on Saturday morning sho communicated by Morso lamp with tho Niwaru, asking for a wireless to ba Bent to Lytteltou. The captain of tho Niwaru, states that his operator tried to call Wellington at 3.35 a.m., and continued till 4.10 a.m., but failed, though ho could hear Wellington talking to tho Pyramus and I'aparoa. The Niwaru got to'Lyttelion at 5.30 a.m.,. und was then assured that her earlier signals had been answered, but that there wero no means of communicating with Lyttelton or Christchurch till 8 o'clock. Ihe oaptain of tho Niwaru declares his intention of having tho matter investigated, particularly os regards the alleged failure of Wellington to acknowledge the call at 3.35 a.m. OFFICIAL EXPLANATION. Mr. W. B. Morris (Secretary to ,tho Post and Telegraph Department) infonnod a Dominion reporter last evening that tho interruption complained of by the captain of tlio Niwaru was duo to somo slight eccentricity in tho working of tho wireless apparatus. The report of tho wireless officials states that a,t 3.35 a.m. on Saturday they heard tho Niwaru calling and endeavoured to communicate with her, but, apparently owing to tho unsatisfactory olimatio conditions, or (to use tho technical term) tho "statics," tho yes™ was unable to get tho signals. At 4.10 tho steamer called again, and the local station immediately replied, but failed to get a response from her. At 4.13 Wellington endeavoured to communicate with the NiTram, but was unsuccessful, and met with failure again at 4.55 a.m. Both, at 4.13 a.m. and 4.55 a.m. H.M.S. New Zealand wirelessed that she had heard tho Niwaru calling and offered to assist in endeavouring to get into touch with tho steamer. Finally tho message oam© through from tho Niwaru at 6.16 a.m., and was sent to the manager of the Union Steam Ship Company at Wellington at 7 o clock. Lyttelton was not advised, as there was no vessel (there which could receive a wiraess message. In addition there was also tho fact that as tho Maori expccted to connect with tho express which would leave at o o'clock tho advice would have been too late. , ■ The message reooived at 6.1G -a.m. was as follows"Maori reports dropped blado of centre propeller. Pleaso advise Lyttelton. Steaming 15, so will witch express." • -