’PLANE MYSTERY

Hokitika Guardian, 17 August 1933, Page 7

’PLANE MYSTERY

FATE OF SOUTHERN CLOUD.

RENEWAL OF THE SEARCH.

Resident of Bundanoon, New South Whiles, and film ’surrounding district have recently organised extensive weekend searches for the aeroplane Southern Cloud, which was lost while on the journey "from Sycfney to Melbourne on March 21, 1931. The searchers say they believe that the aeroplane will be found in the deep gorges toward Kangaroo Valley. The searchers/have been well organised, and every week-end parties sot out in motor-lorries for thickly-tim-bered gorges to the cast of Bundanoon. A trip was made two weeks ago through rugged country between Meryla Valley and Wingello. About 19 miles were travelled. At a recent week-end parties searched between Meryla Valley and Bundanoon. White objects were noticed glistening on the cliff face on the opposite side of the valley from Kangaroo Point. Axes were used by the party to cut their way through the dense vegetation Hugo blocks of stone, covered with rotting trees and tangled vines, made progress slow. The men were disappointed to find that the glistehing was caused by the reflection of sunlight from white rocks.

Records of the country are being kept to prevent parties duplicating their traverses. Air S. Garbut-t, who lias been a settler in Meryla Valley for many years, has been appointed guide

When the Southern Cloud disap. pea red, several well-known residents ol Bundanoon, which is 95 miles southwest of Sydney, recalled that they had seen 'what they believed to be an aeroplane. Aviation authorities said that they had no record of any aeroplane in the vicinity at the time, and the residents of Bundanoon say they are still convinced that the Southern Cloud made a forced . landing near their town.