SEARCH BY AIR

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 72, 26 March 1931, Page 15

SEARCH BY AIR

NEW PLYMOUTH YACHTS-

MEN

At 6 o'clock this morning, Captain G. L. Stedman, instructor to tho Wellington Aero Club, left the Bongotai Aerodrome to make an aerial search for

the two men who left New Plymouth on tho night of sth March in a yawl rigged yacht for Lyttelton, via D'Urville Island and Picton. On. 11th March, tho master of the coastal vessel Opihi, on arrival at Nelson, reported that lie had seen a small yacht, with two sails set, lying upside down, ten miles north-east of Nelson. When the wreckage was lator inspected it was established with very little room for doubt that the wreckage was that of the New Plymouth craft, but nothing was found of tho bodies of the yachtsmen, S. J. H. Silvester and H. C. R. Hudson, of the ' Canterbury University College. Captain Stedman set his course for Nelson this morning, searching the coastlines oh each side of Cook Strait and of tho small islands in. the vicinity. It was intended that if he discovered anything, he should land at Nelson, and report to Wellington. The Government "lighthouse steamer Matai, which left yesterday morning to attend to tho Cook Strait lights, would then be communicated with by wireless if Captain Stedman's report indicated that she would be able to give assistance.

Captain Stcdman, who fllew a Gypsy Moth aeroplane, and was accompanied by Mr. F. Adams, returned to Rongotai at 1.30 p.m. He told a "Post" reporter that on the trip south Tory Channel was first searched, and then the vicinity of the Brothers rocks. From the Brothers he flow across to Stephen's Island, inspecting all the bays and islands en route. He went down tho West Coast as far as D'Urville Island, and then proceeded to Nelson, alighting at Stoke for benzine. The iulets and bays around French Pass were next searched. A southerly gale made the conditions most unpleasant. As there was no sign of the men, Captain Stcdman returned to Wellington after five hours flying, the return trip from Nelson taking two and a quarter hours.