TASMAN FLIGHT

Hokitika Guardian, 13 January 1928, Page 2

TASMAN FLIGHT

FRUITLESS SEARCH. NEAR CAPE FAREWELL. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Jan. 12. The following telegram was received by E. C. Jack, of Wellington, from A. L. Hunt, who is spending a holiday in the vicinity of Farewell Spit:— “Search by self. E. C. Anderson, If. R. Young, Borough Engineer, Westport, for fifteen miles on the north side of Farewell .Spit for traces of airmen, was without result.” The message was sent from Collingwood.

SUFFICIENT FOOD FOR SEVERAL DAYS. WELLINGTON, Jan. 12. The following message has been received from Captain Knight from Sydney by Mr McNicol. All experts sure me that hope must not he abandoned for several days yet. for they are either in the mountainous country or if they landed in the sea. their tanks were sufficiently empty to keep them afloat. They had sufficient chocolalc and water for several days. RE til THING THE RANGES. WELLINGTON. Jan. 12. Mr Rawnslcy has been in touch with Mr F. IV. Vr.sselor of the Taraiua Tramping Club and niT.uigemeiitarc now being made to send out parties at once from Otaki. Levin and Kaitoke. and if possible from Greytown, to search for the missing airmen.

Mr Rawnslcy is a flying man himself and Major Wilkes and Captain Findlay will take him over the country by air to-morrow.

Ml- Vo-ssclor will also have other parties of trnmpers organised "nil available, if the aerial search reveals anything that indicates that such help is needed.

ROVER SCOUTS TO ASSIST

ACCORDING TO RADIO

Messages picked up by Mr P. J. Paterson (Union Hotel) last evening, from the Auckland broadcasting station state the Rover Scouts have been requested to parade at 9.30 a.m. to-day io front of the Wellington General post Office with a view to co-operating with the Tarariia Tramping Chib, in organising search parties for the Rimutakn Ranges. M ASTERTON’S VOLUNTEERS. MASTER-TON, Jan. 12. At the request of Major At ilkes. Mr F. AY. Vossclcr, president of the Tararua. Tramping Club has asked a Master ton search party committee to organise parties of volunteers to search the Tararua Ranges from Holdsworth to Mitre, to see if_ they can find any trace of the missing, airmen. It is expected that the parties will leave to-morrow forenoon.

PARKAI<ARTK A OBSERVERS. INTERVIEWED BY AVIATORS’ WIVES. CONVINCED THEY SAAV THE ’PLANE. WELLINGTON, Jan. 12. One of Hie first of the many places from which reports were received stating that the aeroplane which had crossed tlie Tasman had been seen was Paekakariki.

Messrs Peppered ami Harris \\eie quite definite in their statements that they had seen the aeroplane Ml a downward glide, travelling out to sea. The fact that the engine was not heard was attributed to a strong northerly wind blowing off the hind. The Postmaster of Paekakariki has stated that he places the utmost reliance on the story told by Messrs Popperoll and Harris, is convinced that they did in fact see the aeroplane, and not merely imagined it.

So greatly impressed were Airs Monerieff and Mrs Hood with the persistency with which Messrs Peppered and Harris held to their statements, that they yesterday journeyed to Packakariki in company with Mr .1. R. Macdonald, one of the trustees of the Flying Fund, and interviewed them. As a result of that interview all three are convinced that the story is genuine, and that it was the missing aeroplane that was seen.

“IN THE RTMUTAKAS.” HOOD’S BROTHER CONFIDENT. OVERSHOT RESTIN' ATION. , SYDNEY, Jan. 12. Captain’s Hood brother, who is a pilot in the Queensland Aerial Mail Service, states that it is impossible for his brother to have sent the reported wireless message, as he did not know the morse code. Hood added that he was confident his brother and Monerieff had effected a landing somewhore inland. It was their intention if it was dark when they arrived off the Coast, not to make for Trentham, but for one of the beaches. They evidently overshot their destination and landed somewhere in the Rimutakns His brother knows the country well ami has flown over it, so he was familiar with it from the air.

BOOK SELLE it S’ SYAIP ATH Y. WANGANUI. .Tan. 12. Members of the New Zealand Retail Booksellers’ Association in conference at Wanganui, passed the following resolution to-day:— _ “The Association members desire to express to the wives of the aviators, who made the heroic venture across the Tasman Sea, their warm and sincere sympathy with them in their present anxiety and distress. The members earnest desire is that them fears may he speedily relieved.

SEARCHING THE COAST. TWO CRUISERS AND SLOOPS ENGAGED. AUCKLAND, Jan. 12. In view of the wide extent of the area over which the search for the missing airmen is to he made off the Coast, the cruiser Diomede, will leave Auckland to-morrow morning, to assist the cruiser Dunedin which sailed shortly before noon to-dny. The sloops Veronica and Laburnum, will coal and stand by ready to go to sea if their services are required. The cruisers will co-operate in the search, covering a wide area. The Dunedin and Diomede will both do twenty-four knots. The Dunedin is due in the search area at midday tomorrow. and the Diomede on Saturday morning.

DELAY EXPLAINED. WELLINGTON, Jan. 12. The Minister of Defence (Hon. F. J. Roileston) announced to-night that H.M.S. Diomede would leave Auckland at H a m to-day and would

steam at 24 knots tier hour, to join tho H.M.6. Dunedin at the .place of search. The Dunedin is due to arrive this morning, at the point from which the signals were last supposed to have hecn heard.

ft is explained that the crews of both ships were on leave until tomorrow, and this is why it was impossible to despatch them earlier. HEARD THE PLANE. OTAKT, Jan. 13. A (local resident of standing says he and his wife distinctly heard an airplane pass over, going in the direction of Martinborough. He is willing to sign an affidavit to this effect. CAPTAIN BUCKLEY’S SEARCH. BLENHEIM. Jan. 13. Owing to the atisence from Wellington of Major Wilkes, Director of Ail Services no instructions had been received by Captain Buckley up to late Inst night in connection with the continuation of the aerial search for the Tasman fliers. At seven o’clock this morning the Captain succeeded in getting into touch with Major AA ilkes bv telephone. lie then received oiders to leave Blenheim and fly to Cape Farewell, turning there and flying southward around the coast as far as Karnmea, returning direct to Blenheim. At the conclusion of this patrol Captain Buckley lias been ordered to fly to New Plymouth, a distance of about -170 miles by air line from Blenheim. As his fuel supply will not be sufficient for the return to Blenheim he will probably land at TrentTuim. Considerable time was spent this mornink in going over the Do Haviland, making adjustments to the engine which did not function too well in the latter portion of yesterday’s flight. The cruise to Farewell and the northern portion of tho AVest Coast, South Island, was commenced at 11.10 this morning.

late comment. WELLINGTON, Jan. 13. Other observers now corroborate the story that the plane was seen from Mount Victoria above AVellington. Ii is asserted that it was plainly visible over Island Bay, and headed north, passing behind the hills to the westward, which would coincide with the report of its appearance at Paekakariki. It is positively alleged that fifty people or more saw it and raised loud cheers. Further calculation hv radio men based on the last signals are that at 5.30 p.m. the machine was only one hundred miles away from AVellington. - "