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Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 135, 9 June 1936, Page 8

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MYSTERY OF THE SEA.

I ROCKETS AND OIL SEEN. SEARCH AT PORANGAHAU. (By Telegraph—Special to "Star.") NAPIER, this day. ■ Evidence linking the discovery of three hatch covers with the possible fate of the small full-rigged , ship Joseph Conrad is suggestive, but by 110 means definite. Nothing else except the'covers has been found, but residents of Porangahau and neighbouring districts find themselves compelled to relate their discovery to the known fact that, the Jeseph Conrad was off the coast about a week ago, and also to the rocket signals.reported by the steamer Kartigi and oil seen floating 011 the sea. When the Kartigi reported having seen the rockets from a point apparently near the month of the Porangahau River the postmaster at Porangahau, Mr. E. Douglas, having intercepted her message to the authorities, notified settlers and since Tuesday last farmers and their men have been' engaged in a close search. Practically the whole coastline, from Cape- Turnagain northwards nearly to Cape Kidnappers, has l>eeii patrolled. Nothing had been found, however, until Mr. J. Hunter discovered three hatch covers.

The discovery is the more disturbing in the light of" the fact that patches of oil were seen floating on the water near Porangahau last week. Mr. Hunter himself noticed one patch about an eighth of an acre in extent, and an aeroplane from the Hawke's Bay and East Coast Aero Club which undertook a search following the Kartigi's report saw several small patches of oil close to the shore. Their presence recalls the fact that the Joseph Conrad was equipped with an oil burning auxiliary engine of the. semi-Diesel type.

It is also recalled that two residents of Porangahau, Messrs. 11. Stoddart and Mrs. Speedy, declare that they saw a full-rigged ship headed in a northerly direction oil" the township between May 20 and 28. Strange Light Seen. Moreover, the postmaster, accompanied by a number of settlers, went on to the beach immediately after hearing the Kartigi',* message, 'and although they saw no vessel they claim to have •seen what appeared to be a light approximately in the position which the Knrtigi had indicated. A heavy southwesterly wind was blowing and a heavy sea was running at the time. It was on the following day that the Government steamer Matai, which -was in the course of her regular trip round the lighthouses, stopped to search the coastline, though without result. Beyond the discovery of the hatch covers and the detection of oil on the sea, residents of Porangahau and settlers of the district can furnish onlv speculation as a basis for connecting the possible disappearance of the Joseph Conrad with the developments of the last few days. The inclination to link them together is strong, however, and many are convinced that the evidence already found will ultimately prove to have supplied the key to the fate of tht last British full-rigged ship in the world. In the meantime settlers and others are continuing their vigil on the coastline in the expectation that funthei wreckage mtiy be washed ashore. Since ! the rockets reported by the Kurtigi appeared to be fairly close to the shore and since settlers sighted a ship only a mile or two from the coast it is concluded that the Joseph Conrad, if she foundered, could not have been far out at sea and that another tide or two will wash up any further wreckage which might drift in.

NO HATCHES ON SHIP. AUSTRALIAN OPINION. (Received 11a.m.) SYDNEY, this day. Anxiety over the Joseph Conrad, because of the discovery at Porangahati of hatch covers, is discounted. The ehip did not carry hatches, as she was designed for training cadets, not for the carriage of cargo. A Melbourne message says that several shipping officials there, including the Director of Navigation-, Captain J. Davis, confirmed that the' Joseph Conrad did not carry hatches. Because of this there seemed to be no reason for alarm at the discovery on the beach at Porangahan, Captain Davis added that damaged hatch covers were often thrown overboard f"om vessels, and their discovery did not necessarily mean that a ship had been lost.