STILL NO NEWS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 52, Issue 7, 19 October 1931, Page 4

STILL NO NEWS.

MISSING MOTOR-SHIP KOTITI. TWO PASSENGERS ABOARD. (Per Press Association). WELLINGTON, This Day. No news having been received of the small motor-ship Kotiti, which left Westport on Saturday, October 10, anxiety concerning the safety of the vessel has increased. Search by aeroplane revealed no trace. It is now learned that there were two passengers aboard —Messrs, Hamilton Matthews (a telegraphist) and Stanley Cummings (a taxi owner), both of Westport. SHARP LOOK-OUT ON STEAMER. NO SIGN OF SHIP OR WRECKAGE WELLINGTON, This (Day. l4ie master of the Kaimai, which arrived this morning from Greymouth, reported that the vessel had passed within a mile of the spot where oil drums were washed ashore, and although a sharp look-out was kept when passing every nook and bay from, there to-Wellington, no sign of the Kotiti or any wreckage was seen. \ UNIDENTIFIED DINGHY FOUND. SEVEN MEN OX THE KOTITI.' WELLINGTON, This Day. The following telegram was received by the Secretary for Marine to-day from Constable Audley, of Collingwood, who organised a search for the steamer Kotiti near Cape Farewell: — "The coast has been searched from Spit Lighthouse southwards as far as Anaweka, near Kahurangi Lighthouse. I am endeavouring to have a search made from Anaweka further... south. At 3 p.m. on Sunday, October 11, a settler named" Riley found on rocks a mile north of Greycliffs, west of Wanganui Inlet, a ship's dinghy, 16 feet long, painted white outside and reddish brown on top. It bore no name. It was slightly damaged." An effort is being made by the Marine Department to have the dinghy identified. Captain Holm has little doubt that it belonged to the Kotiti. In addition to being manned by five men, the Kotiti carried two others as passengers. The ship is not licensed to carry passengers. Those on board were: Captain Christian Johannsen, master; Hector • Soares, engineer: James Clark, aged 18, of West Coast, assistant engineer; A. Davies, Reefton, cook: George Hughes, of Tahiti, seaman; Hamilton Matthews, telegraphist, and Stanley Cummings, taxi-driver. Vessels that have come over the Kotiti's route have seen nothing. FURTHER FLOTSAM FOUND. WELLINGTON, October 17. This afternoon the Secretary for Marine (Mr Godfrey) advised that he had received the following telegram from I. O. Harris, who discovered the oil drums at Kaikoha : _. "Have searched the coast northward from Kaikoha, a distance of five miles. Am unable to proceed at present, owing to the tide. Have recovered' four additional oil drums and a small door frame, evidently of a cabin (or hatch). Search parties have been organised as required."

AERIAL SEARCH FRUITLESS. CHRISTGHURCH, October 18. . Flight-Lieutenant Buckley returned to Wigram Aerodrome this evening after searching the coastline from Kahurangi Point into Queen Charlotte Sound, without finding any trace of the Kotiti. • . North-west conditions made flying a bit rough, but visibility was perfect. The airman spent three hours searching on Saturday afternoon, and two hours to-day. He flew above the Sounds, where there are thousands of sheltering places, but' the Kotiti was n'ot located.