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Ashburton Guardian, Volume 48, Issue 80, 14 January 1928, Page 5

SEARCH HAMPERED

THE MISSING AVIATORS, WEATHER NOW WET AND FOGGY. AEROPLANE NOT SENT OUT. i (Pec Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The weather has turned wet and foggy, which must greatly impede the efforts of the parties in search of the missing airmen. „„ nr m , . ,-. BLENHEIM, This Day. Captain Buckley was advised hy Wellington to-day to proceed with the plan for a patrol of- the West Coast from Farewell Spit to Karamea, but heavy southerly weather prevails and nothing can be done. The airmen can take off from Blenheim, but thick clouds sire massed practically all over the territory to be covered, rendering any Sight useless. Everything was ready for a fight this morning. THE SIGNALS. NO DOUBT AS TO SOURCE. CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. Mr R. J- Baggs, who was detailed by the Telegraph Department to pick up signals fron* the airmen, says he has no doubt that the signals received from 5.12 to 5.22 on the day of the flight were from the 'plane: They were first picked up on a wave-length of 33.35 metres. No commercial stations were sending on that wave-length at that time; THE USE OF CODE SIGNALS. SYDNEY STATEMENT DENIED. WELLINGTON, This Day. A cablegram from Sydney yesterday said a statement had been made there that call signs and the interpretation code to be used in the wireless apparatus installed on the aeroplane were wired to the Government wireless station at Wellington, and to ships within wireless distance of. Sydney and Wellington. This statement was referred to the Secretary of the General Post Office, who gives it a specific denial. No information was received by tye Department in regard to any special code signals or interpretation code signals to be used on the aeroplane's wireless apparatus. ~~ i t\ The only arrangement with the Department was that the aeroplane should send a continuous whine for five minutes at each quarter of the hour. This apparently was not done, as the whine received was over longer periods and at irregular times.