AN UNFOUNDED RUMOUR

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 49, 22 November 1920, Page 4

AN UNFOUNDED RUMOUR

SRIP-IN-FLAMES HOAX. As an indication of how a rumour traverses a eify, the Harbour Board officials stated to a Dominion reporter yesterday that on Saturday night no fewer than fifty persons rang up the tolls office and regaled the watch-house keeper with the alarming story that the s.s. Corinthic, outbound for London since Thursday, was floating a helpless 'lire-swept ship, several hundreds of miles off these shores. Tho majority of the inquirers refused to accept any denial of the rumour. "One person," paid the watch-house keeper last evening, "at about one o'clock on Sunday morning rang up and asked mo what boat would relievo tho Wahine on her run back from Lyttelton, ns he had heard that tho vessel had gone to the assistance of the Corinthic, which was on fire. He scemed_ quite incredulous when told that the Wahine would arrive as usual. The rumour, however, was broadcast through t'uv city, the weatherstained lonic at midday appeared in the offing awaiting her pratique, many peoplo lined the whnrves, thinking her to be her sister ship (put back to port in distress. Shipping and Government circles authoritatively deny the rumour.