MISSING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 7, 9 January 1937, Page 10

MISSING.

MEN IN AEROPLANE.

TOOK OFF YESTERDAY.

QUARTER-CASTE MAORI PILOT

ANXIETY IN WANGANUI.

(By Ti'lrjrrnph.— Sprclnl to "Star.")

WANTJAXUI, this day,

A qua it er-enste Maori, Mr. W. Polaka. aped about 2.~> years, who lives with his mother in Bignell Street, Gonvillc, took off from the Wangantii air-

port, at -.10 yi-i-terday afternoon in one of the We-tern Federation aeroplanes, ZKACII. with a Maori passenger, Mr. I'ino PoUika, int iinating that he intended to fly to Palmerston North and return this morning. The whereabouts of the 'phiup and its two occupants are now unknown. lie was due to arrive r>nck about 9 o'clock, but when the 'plane failed to put in an appearance a telephone call was put through to the Palmerston North Club. Officials here were sursurprised to learn that the 'plane had not been sighted there, as it was thought at first that Mr. Potaka had been wea-ther-bound in Palmerston North.

The police were immediately communicated with, and various outlying stations were called up. It was learned that a (lipsy Moth answering the description of the missing 'plane had been seen at 3.45 p.m. flying over Waiouru. Mr. Potaka is known to have relatives in the Taihape district, and it is thought that he may have changed his mind and decided to pay them a visit.

The 'plane carried a full tank of 19 gallons of petrol, sufficient for three hours' range.

Inquiries from Tokaanu, Taupo and Taihape indicate that the 'plane has not been sighted. If it was obliged to make a forced landing in the .locality where it was last presumed to have been sighted, assuming the airmen were uninjured, it might take some time to get out owing to the nature of the country.

Mr. Potaka is a member of the Wanganui Aero Club. He learned to fly in Australia, and has several hundred flours' flying to his credit. His height is given as sft Bin. When he took off he was wearing a leather flying jacket. His passenger, a cousin, is aged 20, and is sft lOin in height.

Mr. Potaka made frequent crosscountry flights over the Raetihi district during week-ends.