STILL NO NEWS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 48, Issue 78, 12 January 1928, Page 5

STILL NO NEWS

THE MISSING AVIATORS. SYSTEMATIC SEARCH BEGUN. COVERING A WIDE AREA. ANOTHER 'PLANE TAKES PART. (Per Press Association.) BLENHEIM, This Day. i Captain Buckley returned at 1.50 "• after three hours eight minutes nearch round Cape Jackson, over Stephen and Kapiti Islands to Foxton and back. The visibility at sea was not good. - H© saw no trace of the missing 'plane or airmen. CHRISTOHURCH, This (Day. Captain Findlay. in the D.H. 50 surtbj machine, left the Wigram aerodrome at 11 o'clock for Trentham, arriving there about 1.30. After refueling he will begin a search of the, west coast of the North Island. 'PLANE LEAVES BLENHEIM. . •'/ • BLENHEIM, This Day. Captain Buckley left Blenheim at 10.42 this morning to carry out a eesrch over the pre-arranged patrol. Obviously poor visibility up to that hour delayed his departure. It is not altogether certain that conditions over the route will favour the search, and the 'plane may return at any time. If the visibility is satisfactory the period of the cruise will probably be four hours., after which time the 'plane will return to Blenheim. TUG SIGHTS NOTHING. WELLINGTON, This Day. 'The Minister of Defence (the Hon. F- J- Rolleston) has ordered another aeroplane to leave . Christchurch and come to Trentham to search ,the surrounding country. < A report from the tug Toia at 8.35 a.m., states that she was then in 39deg 38min south, 173 deg 45min east. The wind was "east, with a fresh, moderate sea, and visibility good. Nothing jhad been sighted.

H.M.S. DUNEDIN LEAVES PORT. AUCKLAND, This Day. The warship Dunedin sailed in search «f the airmen shortly after noon. A FRUITLESS SEARCH. WELLINGTON, This Day. The following telegram was received l>y Mr E. C. Jack, of Wellington, from Mr A. L. Hunt, who is spending a holiday in the vicinity of Farewell ISpit: "Search by self, E. C. Anderson, H. B. Young (borough engineer of Westport) 15 miles on the north side of Farewell Spit for traces of the airmen •without result." The message was sent from Collin gTFOOd. RAILWAYMEN CONFIDENT. WELLINGTON, This Day. Further investigation of various reports as to seeing or hearing the aviators shows how little basis there really was for most of them. In some cases both lights and the alleged hum of the engine have been traced to motorcars on hillsides. The light-keeper at Stephen's Island did not see the aeroplane, but only some lights. The most positive evidence appears to be that of Messrs Harrisi and Pepperill, at Paekakariki. The former is an engine-driver who saw hundreds of 'planes in the war and is certain, he says, that he saw the 'plane on Tuesday evening. He could distinguish the wings and under-carriage, and followed it till it was lost to view behind Pukerua Point, at which time (9 p.m.) it appeared to have a downward tendency. Both men are prepared to make an affidavit that they saw a 'plane. On the other hand, it is pointed out that the aviators/ meant to arrive in daylight, and if they found it impossible, their first impulse would be to look for a safe landing-place. It is unbelievable that they would carry on ■fciU it was too dark to land anywhere.

THE QUESTION OF PLANS. POSITION OF MR COATES, WELLINGTON, This Day. Heplying to a statement reported to have been made by Mr J. G. Coates at Whangarei to the effect that he had informed the aviators that he considered their plans were ill-prepared, Mr A MeNicol (one of the trustees of the Tasman Flight Fund) said he had no <lesire to involve Mr Ooates in any public controversy, as he guite appreciated his good soirit toward the men and his desire for their safety. Mr MeNicol says, however, it is somewhat unfair to thei aviators and those most closely connected with the venture to state their plans were illprepared. To his ceifcain knowledge the only conversation held by Mr Coates with the aviators was a few minutes before they sailed for Sydney. Mr Coates did not discuss The plans of the expedition with the aviators or certainly not to such an extent as to Justify his statement. It was only fair to Mr Coates to say that he never personally approved of the flight, nor -was the Government officially connected with it in a#y way. The question hasljeen raised whether the Government had done sufficient to assist the men to find the shores of "Jfew Zealand. At the oxitset the Government Jiad been asked tojend the assistance of its Departments in conTiection with certain features of the ifeht, and this had been done. The Australian authorities had also given assistance. The Government had been *3ked %Q hcJYe a warship patrolling the

coast and promised that this would be done if a ship were available. Unfortunately the date of "the flight did not fit in with the movements of the fleet. The promoters were sorry that the country should be put to the expense of the search no.w taking place, but the trustees were of opinion that a great deal of this money might have been saved had two airplanes been sent out to scout the coast and show the men the way into the country.

A SUITABLE MACHINE. MAJOR DE HAVILAND'S OPINION. (Received This Day, 11.15 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. Major do Haviland, who inspected the "Ao-tea-Roa" at Melbourne, said he considered that, unless the machine developed defects on the journey, it was equal to the task of crossing the Tasman. The 'plane impressed him as being mosjt suitable for the flight, and he could discover no reason why, if given, ordinary luck, it should not reach its destination. If it had been forced to descend on the sea and made a good landing it should float for some hours, particularly if the airmen were able to empty the petrol tanks. Even if the machine crashed into the sea and the wings were broken it should float for two or three hours.

SHOULD BE AMPHIBIAN. SIR KEITH SMITH'S OPINION. (Received This Day, 11.20 a.m.) ... MELBOURNE, This Day. Sir Keith Smith, referring to the Tasman flight, expressed himself as more than ever convinced that such a flight should not have been undertaken except in an amphibian machine. He says that although it was an all-metal machine it did not necessarily mean that it would sink. Toward the end of the flight the netrol tanks would be at least three-quarters empty and that would mean considerable buoyancy. There was the possibility that the machine may still be floating.