MYSTERY ROCKETS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 221, 15 June 1936, Page 10

MYSTERY ROCKETS

Three Sighted Near Cape Turnagain

KARTIGI’S VAIN SEARCH No Sign of Wreckage Found Although no vessel has been reported missing during tlie last fortnight and no explanation of the mystery has been derived from the flotsam and jetsam found on the coast, the members of the crew of the Union Steam Ship Company’s steamer Kartigi who were on watch in the evening of June 1 are certain that three rockets were seen by them in the vicinity of Cape Turnagain. 'Die Kartigi returned to Wellington from southern ports on Saturday morning, and when seen by a representative of “'Die Dominion” Captain C. C. Waters, master of the ship, confirmed the report previously made by him to the Marine Department regarding the sighting of the rockets. In the evening of June 1, said Captain Waters, the Kartigi, which was bound from Auckland to Wellington, was about 12 miles off the land, between Blackhead and Cape Turnagain. 'Die ship was steaming about four knots against a southerly gale of force 6 to 7, and a heavy sea, when at 6.55 p.m. the chief officer on the bridge sighted a rocket ou a bearing of about south 65 degrees west, in the direction of Cook's Tooth, a prominent peak about 31 miles north of Cape Turnagain. The rocket was followed by two others, all being seen by the look-out man and the man at the wheel, as well as by tlie chief officer, who at once notified the master.

Captain Waters at once altered the ship’s course ami steamed in the direction in which the rockets had been seen. The second officer stood by the wireless apparatus, a man was sent aloft as an additional look-out, the ship’s rocket apparatus was got ready and other preparations made to assist a vessel in distress and to take it in tow if necessary.

The Kartigi, proceeding with caution (the coastline not being accurately charted in this locality), steamed inshore as far as was deemed safe for a loaded ship and then worked her way up us far as the mouth of the Porangahau River, whore lights were seen some way inland. The ship then turned ami proceeded south on a zig-zag course as far as Cape Turnagain. A sharp lookout was kept all the time, but no sign of any vessel ami not a vestige of wreckage was seen. At 9.10 p.m., however, when the ship was a little to the northward of Cape Turnagain. a light was seen for about three or four minutes, showing above the lop of the hill. A bearing was taken ami a plot on tlie chart showed the light to be approximately on the snme bearing as that of the rockets sighted more than two hours earlier. 'Die light then disappeared, and as a close investigation had shown nothing in Hie nature of a vessel in trouble, the Kartigi was headed off shore ami resumed her passage to Wellington. Captain Waters ami his officers are at a complete loss to account for tlie rockets ami the light in view of the close search made by them, ami can only conclude that they may have had their origin at some homestead in tlie hills fringing tlie coast in that vicinity. ANOTHER HATCH-COVER DISCOVERED Tlie postmaster at I’orangahau last night advised "The Dominion” by telephone that another hatch cover had been found on the beach, but he said the residents were no nearer tlie solution of the mystery of what vessel the flotsam was coming from.

Captain IV. Stuart, of the Marine Department, who lias been making an inspection of tlie timber and hatch covers found at I’orangahau. lias returned to 'Wellington, and will make his report to tlie Marine Department. It is stated to lie his opinion that Hie timbers are old and have been adrift for some time.