TASMAN FLIGHT

Hokitika Guardian, 16 January 1928, Page 2

TASMAN FLIGHT

CAPTAIN BUCICLEY.fi SEARCH. ALL HOPE GIVEN UP. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) BLENHEIM, Jan. 14. Captain Buckley was advised by 'Wellington to-day to proceed with the plan of patrol on the West Coast, from Cape Farewell Spit to Karamen, hut heavy southerly weather prevailed and nothing could he done. The airmen could have taken off From Blenheim hut thought clouds massed practically all over the terrritory to he covered, would render any flight useless. Everything was ready for the flight this morning.

TILE IRREGULAR SIGNALS. WAS THE PLANE FUNCTIONING f PROPERLY ? WELLINGTON, Jan. 14. The only arrangement with the Department was that the aeroplane should send a continuous whine for five minutes at each quarter of the hour. This apparently was not done, as the whine received was over longer periods and at irregular times. WELLINGTON, Jan. 14. Further reports re the supposed smoke signals go to show that it was probably a scrub fire. Similar smoke was seen two days ago. The police in the district have taken no further action. Search parties are out in that direction and would have seen the smoke, and no doubt reported same, if neces--sa ry. WELLINGTON, Jan. 14. There is nothing to report concerning the missing airmen. The weather conditions are making the search impossible, the high places being completely enveloped in mist. It is windy, and there has been rain. The rumour that a plane was seen off the Ota-ki district on the hillside is now discovered to he unfounded.

FIRE ON RUAHINE RANGES. WELLINGTON, Jan. 14. The Secretary of the Post- and Telegraph Department has received the following additional messages relative to reports concerning the missing aviators : 7.50, Saturday evening.—From Postmaster, Shannon: “Police interviewed Robbie, who states that the smoke was from a scrub fire on his property, there being no other fire in his locality.” 10.20 Sunday morning—From Postmaster, Damievirke: “Police state that late last night a resident of Dannovirko reported that he and his family saw smoke on the Rualiinc Ranges in the direction of ftuaroa, at six o’clock on Wednesday morning, which appeared to he signals. He did not report earlier as ho expected it to he ridiculed. This morning several residents of Ruaroa report that they can discern some object on the ranges which is unfamiliar. A party of six or seven set out at 10 a.in. to investi- *" 10.30, Sunday morning-—From Chief Postmaster. Nelson: “Collingwood reports last night, re fire investigations, show that it has no connection with the missing aeroplane.”

NOT SEEN BY KAIRANGA. AUCKLAND, Jan. 15. Nothing has been seen or heard of the missing aeroplane hv the officers and crew of the Union Company’s steamer Kairanga. which reached Auckland from Mellxmrne cm Saturday morning. MIST ON RANGES. MASTER-TON. Jan. 15. Had weather oil the Tararuns drove out. search partied from Masterton who have been looking for any trace of the missing airmen. The range from the Mitre to Holdsworth has been enveloped in a heavy cloud bank since Friday, and visibility is poor and completely negatived the work of the searchers.

NAVAL SEARCH ABANDONED. WELLINGTON, Jan. 15. The Minister of Defence (Hon. F. J. Rolleston't received a message from Commodore Swabev on Saturday night, that an area of 2401) square miles had been search by the three ships—Dunedin. Diomede and Toin*—without the discovery of any trace of the missing men or their aeroplane. A later message stated that a heavy sea was running, which would effectively destroy before daylight, on Sunday any wreckage that might still he afloat, and that any further search at sea was considered useless, in view of this.

The Minister agreed that the warships should return to Auckland, and that the Toia should return to Wellington. THE LAST SIGNALS. CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 14. R. J. Baggs, who was detailed by the Telegraph Department to pick up signals from the airmen, says he has no doubt that the signals received from 5.12 p.m. to 5.22 p.m. on the day of the flight were from the plane. They were first picked up on a wave length of 33.35 metres. No commercial stations were sending on Hint wave length at that time.

RICH ENTER ’S R E PORT. WELLINGTON. Jan. IC. The police have received instructions to search for the aviators even in the most remote parts of their districts A pig hunter on a high ridge between Orongorongo and Lake Wairarapa says he saw the plane overticd on Tuesdy night and heard the drone from it and noticed a dull red glow as from the exhaust. VARIOUS NEGATIVE REPORTS. p WELLINGTON, Jan. 10. The secretary of the 0.P.0. has l>eon - advised by the Post Master at Levin that a party sea relied the Mangahao Valley and traversed the ranges to the top of Mount Dundas. 5000 feet and f found nothing. The weather is bleak and owing to the dense fog and sleet the country further hack could not be explored. The Post Master at Westport reports the beaches at Westport have been searched. Several mysterious happenings were investigated without result. The search lietween Oparara and Heapley river will !>e searched on Monday. The Post Master at Nelson is arranging a search between Kahauranga Point and Patarau River. The master of the sehoonerr Fairburn passed close to the Coast on Wednesday and saw nothing of the airmen. He thinks the fires reported are bushfires not signals.