EXPERT’S INSPECTION AT PORANGAHAU

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 220, 13 June 1936, Page 13

EXPERT’S INSPECTION AT PORANGAHAU

Timber Thought To Be Old

NO CLUE TO MYSTERY OF ROCKET SIGNALS

An inspection of the timber and hatch covers cast up on the East CoaM near Porangahau durlug lhe past 10 days was made yesterday by Captain W. Stuart, of the Marine Department Nothing was found which links this flotsam to any particular vessel. Captain Stuart is preparing a report based on his inspection and the inquiries he has made. Last night, however, he made an interim report to the Marine Department by telephone from Porangahau. The principal point of his report. “The Dominion” was informed, is that Captain Stuart is of opinion that the timbers are old and have either been adrift for some time or were not cast up recently. No explanation has been found for the rocket signals reported to have been seen on the night of June 1. and it seems likely that unless further evidence be forthcoming, the whole affair will remain a mystery. Official inquiries which have been made leave no room for doubt that signals of some sort were made, but their origin, as well as that of the five hatch-cover sections, cannot be traced. YACHTSMAN’S OPINIONS Joseph Conrad Probably Far Away “I, for one, do not believe that the wreckage picked up on the East Coast is from the Joseph Conrad.” said a well-known Wellington yachtsman yesterday. “The only reason for suggesting it was this vessel was because no other craft had been reported missing. But take the circumstances as they were. On May 20 the Joseph Conrad, a fine, well-found ship, passed through Cook Strait apparently ‘ail well.’ “It was not until June 1, 11 days later, that the rockets were bejieved to be seen. Yet from Cape Palliser to a point off Porangahau would not be a day’s run to the Joseph Conrad with fair weather. What would she have been doing on the other 10 days? Seeing that she was bound to Tahiti, there would be no reason for the Joseph Conrad to be standing off and on the coast between Cape Palliser and Cape Kidnappers for 10 days. When the ship passed through Cook Strait it was estimated that she was doing eight or nine knots—every sail set and drawing—so I reckon she was hundreds of miles off the coast of New Zealand byJune 1.”