A HOAX

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 99, 17 December 1931, Page 2

A HOAX

FALSE REPORT OF FISHING TRAWLER OFF COAST IN DIFFICULTIES A hoax, whieh was fortunately revealed with little trouble, but whieh might have caused considerable worry and expense, was perpetrated recently in Wellington, when a bogus telephone call was received at the office of New Zealand Fisheries, Ltd., to the effect that the company's trawler Futurist was in difiiculties off the Awatere River. The call was received about 11 o'clock in the morning, a voice whieh carried a certain air of officialdom stating that it was "the General Post Office speaking," and that the following telegram had been received from the Postmaster at Seddon: "Vessel pf esumably the Futurist seen in difiiculties off Awatere River. Looks as if rudder broken." The Marine Department was communicated with, and the Department telephoned the lighthouse keeper at Cape Campbell, asking him to endeavour to locate the vessel and to report if and when the Futurist was sighted. The Futurist left Wellington at 7.30 a.m. on Friday for the fishing grounds south of Cape Campbell, and the Department's officials were consequently very very doubtful that she could have reached the locality by the time she was reported to he in difficulties. The lighthouse keeper searched the sea with a telescope up to five miles past the Awatere River and sighted nothing. Soon afterwards the. trawler passed by, and on heing signalled with flags reported "All Well."