TASMAN FLIGHT

Hokitika Guardian, 21 January 1928, Page 2

TASMAN FLIGHT

SAIOKE SIGNALS

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Jan. 20. Mr Phillips, Forest Banger, has sent in a further report, that what might be smoke signals bad again been seen by him in the ranges in Kirikin and the Snowy River areas. Smoke signals are also supposed to have been seen by someone at Featherston, and it appears that the two sets of signals coincide. A party from Wellington has left to investigate the area in question more fully.

It. was flown over previously by aeroplane, when the smoke was first reported. The locality lias also been visited by settlers from Mangaroa. Mr Vasseler, of the Tararua Tramping Club, stated to-night that full arrangements had been made tor two particularly able bushmen to he obtained from near Featherston to make a special examination of the aroa where the supposed signals were reported to have been seen. -Mr Yasseiei,’ said it was difficult to predict when the search party would lie back, but those who left Wellington this morning would probably reach the high country in the evening. '.the General Secretary of the Post and Telegraph reports receiving a message from the. Postmaster at Featherston, stating that Mr Bobcrts, ol Wakefield Street, Featherston, reports that lie saw smoke signals twice at 0.15 p.m. in the form of small clouds which evaporated quickly. There were no clouds in the sky. He watched closely for thirty minutes, but saw no further signs of the smoko. It was far back.

Mr Bobcrts is a reliable man and understands bush country and smoke signals. In connection with these, Air Vasso ler has sent two men out to investigate. BELIEF FUND FOB WIDOWS. WELLINGTON, Jan. 20. Mayor Troup has called a meeting of citizens for Tuesday evening, with a view to discussing the position in regard to the widows of Moucrieff and Hood with a view to deciding the action to tie taken.

The airmen’s attempt to cross the Tasman, he points out, stirred the imagination of all New Zealand. They sought to place New Zealand first and had no desire for personal gain. Apart altogether from criticism as to the completeness of preparations or otherwise for'the flight, none would deny that these were two brave men who essayed a great task for the honour of New Zealand. All men who attempted great tilings took risks, and should the time ever come when our young men refused to take risks, then romance would have gone out of life. The proposal is to set a relief fund afoot. GO v FI’NAI ENT’S ATTITUDE. SYDNEY, Jan. 20. Beplying to the contention by Moody that the fitting of floats to the machine is unnecessary, the .Minister of Defence said that the Commonwealth Government’s attitude towards iheso flights remains unchanged. The Government was emphatic that flights over water must not he undertaken to a distance greater than fifty miles, unless seaplanes or amphibians were used.