GISBORNE EXCITED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 49, Issue 204, 14 June 1929, Page 6

GISBORNE EXCITED

SUPPOSED FIRE AT SEA. NO FOUNDATION FOR REPORT. (Per Press Association.) GISBORNE, June 13. Some excitement was caused in Gisborne this afternoon bn receipt of news that a large liner, later identified as the Canadian Transporter, was apparently on fire in the Bay of Plenty, but later advice was to the effect that the report was incorrect. The first news came through at 4.10 p.m., when the chief postmaster at Gisborne received the following message from the postmaster at Lottin Point: —• Large steamer proceeding south, about eight miles out at sea, appears to be on fire, but am unable to get any details. At 4.30 p.m. the Lottin Point postmaster further reported:— Vessel appeal's to be oil-burner, one white funnel, Home liner. Smoke subsided. Everything appears nor-

mal again. At 5.30 a third report came from the Lottin Point postmaster as follows: A vessel, probably the Mako, working Lottin Point to-night, has been sighted, and could render any assist-

ance necessary. Between 5.30 and 8 o’clock the liner had turned the corner of the island on her ruui to Wellington, and was well an her way down the east coast. Apparently the lighthouse-keeper at East Cape signalled the report of fire to the liner, for at 8.15 the chief postmaster at Gisborne reported:— Canadian Transporter signalled no

fire. All well. Lottin Point is a small village some ten- miles from Hicks Bay, at the extreme -edge of the Bay of Plenty. The Mako mentioned in the message is a small coaster running between Gisborne and Auckland.