BIG LAND PARTIES OUT

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 635, 11 April 1929, Page 1

BIG LAND PARTIES OUT

A LARGE number of fires was seen by Captain L. Holden from the Canberra yesterday, but they are stated to have been started during the war between the coastal and inland natives. The Goulburn Moth has arrived at Longreach. Until the motor-ship Koolinda arrives at Derby to-night there are only eight cases of petrol left. As there are seven airplanes now engaged in the search official opinion is that additional machines will be of little use and that efforts should be concentrated on ground searches. SEARCH NECESSARILY SLOW Among the messages broadcast from Australia concerning the search for the airmen, the following items from Broome were intercepted in Wellington yesterday, says a Press Association message: “Father Thomas, who left Sydney before the Southern Cross, said that in the event of the Southern Cross crew making a forced landing there would be no fear of the natives interfering with the crew. “The blacks walk many miles to the mission hall,” he said, “and we never have any trouble with them, as they are peaceful. “It is not expected that 250 natives and a few whites who have been sent out can travel more than three to four miles a day. It would be almost

Combing Bush for Lost Plane REPORT OF FINDING UNRELIABLE (United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) Eecd. 10.28 a.m. SYDNEY, To-day. YE STEIiDA Y’ S search for the Southern Cross was again negative. It appears that the reported finding of the monoplane was unfounded. Even the pilot who brought the message doubted its reliability. Pour big land parties are searching the rugged country between the Drysdale mission station and Port George.

impossible to use horses In that country.” A Sydney message stated that the rescue fund there is now £5,425 17s 2d. The committee’s objective is £50,000, as it took the responsibility of commissioning* the air liner Canberra.