MISSING KOTITI

Hokitika Guardian, 19 October 1931, Page 5

MISSING KOTITI

WRECKAGE FOUND. AND MORE CARGO. (By Telegraph —ter Press Association) WELLINGTON, October 17. Regarding the vesel Kotiti,, this afternoon the Secretary for Marine, Mr Godfrey, advised that lie had received the following telegram from Mr J. O. .Harris, who discovered the oil drums at Kaihoka: “Have searched the coast northward from Kaihoka, for a distance of five miles, nut am unable to proceed at present, owing to the tide. J have recovered four additional drums, and a small dooi frame, evidently that of the cabin (or hatch). Search parties have been organised as required.” SEARCH OF COAST. : all: AEROPLANE ASSISTING. WELLINGTON, October 17. The Secretary of the Mann© Department announced this morning that he was arranging with the Defence Department, to send an -aeroplane from Christchurch, via Blenheim, u> search the "West Coast in the vicinity of Collingwood Bay from Cape Farewell to the ICahurangi Point Ligiithouse, for the m.v. Kotiti, which is a week overdue on a voyage from Westport to Foxton, Land search parties are also being arranged. One is working from Kaiho. kn, near Westhaven Inlet, northwards to meet a party that is working around the coast from Paponga, BUCKLEY’S SEARCH FLIGHT. NO SIGN OF KOTITI. CHRISTCHURCH, October 18. Flight-Lieutenant Buckley returned to Wigrain Aerodrome tnis evening, alter searching the coastline from Kaliurangi Point into Queen Charlotte Sound, ' without finding any trace of tlie missing vessel, Kotiti. Northwest conditions made the flying a bit rough, but the visibility was perfect. He spend three hours in searching on Saturday afternoon, and two hours to-day. He flew ashore at the Sounds, where there were thousands of sheltering places, but the Kotiti was not located. FACTS ABOUT THE VESSEL. WESTPORT, October 18. There is naturally much concern here over the missing motor vessel, the Kotiti. She came to. Westport after the earthquake, and worked between Karamea and Westport. When the road was" re-opened, she traded between Westport, Wellington and Foxton. The Kotiti was fitted with new engines some time ago, and she was a seaworthy motor vessel, She had a Fairbanks Morse 75 h.p, engine. The length of the Kotiti was 71 feet, and the beam 16ft 3 inches, while her gross tonnage was C 5, and her net tonnage 20. On departing from Westport the vessel had a cargo of 39 tons of coal and a quantity of empty drums, Mr James Clark, aged 18 years, a young man from Tiroroa, has been assistant engineer on the Kotiti for six months. Mr H. Mathews, telegraphist and radio operator, of tlie Westport Post Office staff, was on hoard the Kotiti, proceeding on his holiday leave. Mr Matthews came to Westport from Wellington, after the earthquake. He supervised the emergency wireless. Mr M. H Soares, the principal wireless owner, was also among those »u board the Kotiti, when she left here yesterday week.

NOT THE “KOTITI.” VESSEL THAT MOFFITT SAW. WELLINGTON. October 18. The vessel seen last Monday afternoon by Mr J. Moffitt, has 1 now been identified as having been the wooden motor ship “Foxton.” The Foxton left Wellington at 2.30 pan., on Monday for Patea, and she later put back to port, owing to the heavy weather. Her identity was proved by Captain Kane, the Master of the “Tamahine,” who reported the fact on Saturday, after Mr Moffitt’s story had been published. NO NEWS. TWO PASSENGERS ABOARD. WELLINGTON, October 19. No news having been received of the small motor ship Kotiti which left Westport on October 10th, anxiety concerning the safety of' the vessel has increased. . Aeroplane search revealed no trace. It is now learned that there were two passengers aboard, Messrs Hamilton Matthews, telegraphist, and Stanley Gumming, taxi owner, both of Westport. AIR SEARCH FRUITLESS. BLENHEIM, October 19. Engaged in the aerial search for missing Kotiti, Captain Buckley cf Wigram re ached Blenheim on Saturday afternoon and after refuelling set out on a leng patrol of the sea coast from Farewell Spit almost to Westport, but without seeing any signs of the missing craft. Later Buckley flew all over the coastal area of the Straits. He spent the night at Motueka and yesterday morning patrol’ed the Sounds and coast around Stephens Island, but without success.

NO SIGNS SEEN. WELLINGTON, October 19. The master of the Kaimai which arrived this morning from Greymouth, reported the vessel had passed within a mile of the spot where oil drums v-ere washed ashore, and although a sharp lookout was kept when passing every nook' and bay from there to Wellington no sign of the ship or any wreckage was seen.