JOSEPH CONRAD’S VOYAGE

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21806, 11 June 1936, Page 9

JOSEPH CONRAD’S VOYAGE

PROBABLY NOT NEAR NEW ZEALAND FORMER PASSENGER’S Opinions (FEEBS ASSOCIATION TELIGaAJt.) HASTINGS, June 10. The opinion that the wreckage founci on the beach at Porangahau could not have originated from the Joseph Conrad was expressed by Mr W. Falconer, a marine engineer, who sailed in the vessel from Ipswich to Melbourne before she came to New Zealand, and who is at present on a visit to Hastings. Mr Falconer said it was extremely unlikely that the Joseph Conrad would be near the New Zealand coast, as after going to New Guinea with a party of gold prospectors he had on board the owner was anxious to return to England, and would not therefore come back towards the New Zealand coast. The wreckage did not resemble in the least any equipment which to his knowledge was on board the Joseph Conrad. She had only one small hatch cover, On which was a brass plate with the name of the vessel inscribed. He also did not think the mastblock washed up on the beach last Friday belonged to the Joseph Conrad, as her blocks were all steel fixtures. WRECKAGE WASHED ASHORE CPBKSS ASSOCIATION TBLBGBAM.) WELLINGTON, June 10. The postmaster at Porangahau reports that a young Maori discovered last Friday morning a mast, broken off, measuring at the bottom 18in square, and 3ft in height. This has since disappeared, having apparently floated out to sea. He also discovered several heavy 9ft planks. They were lying at high water mark, near the spot where the rockets were reported to have been seen by the Kartigi. A hatch cover, 9ft 7in by 18in, with “L.F.” painted in red, was discovered by Mr Jim Hunter on the Blackhead side of the Porangahau river. Another hatch cover was found by a search party this morning. It had not been in the water long, as the screws were not rusty. NO FLOATING WRECKAGE AT SEA STEAMER MATAI’S SEARCH (TB«S« ASSOCIATION TILIOBAU.) AUCKLAND, June 10. No wreckage at sea off Porangahau was sighted by the Government steamer Matai which arrived from the East Coast lighthouses to-day. Captain Burgess, master of the Matai, states that the vessel arrived at Castlepoint from Wellington the day alter the distress rockets were seen. After leaving Castlepoint Captain Burgess zig-zagged the Matai along the coast for about 60 miles, searching the sea, particularly near the bay of Pcrangahau, but did not sight wreckage or floating oik