SOUVENIR HUNTERS

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 102, 27 October 1932, Page 12

SOUVENIR HUNTERS

A REPORT DENIED

CLUB'S APPRECIATION

A strong denial of the report that souvenir hunters had been active among the wreckage of the Wellington Aero Club's aeroplane ZK-AAZ, which crashed near Tawa Flat on Tuesday night, was made to-day by the secretary of the club, Mr. A. W. Nisbet, who said that the local residents, far from causing trouble in this respect, had done everything possible to assist. .

! The party which visited the wreck' to remove the bodies was assisted in carrying the remains to the road by local residents, and' Mr. Nisbet stated that for a short time there was nobody near the wreckage. On reaching the road the. party was met by FlightLieut. G. B. Bolt, the club's pilot engineer, •' who immediately left for; ,the i scene of the crash and remained there until everj'thiiig of value had been salvaged. Apart from tho engine, which has not yet been fully examined to ascertain its condition, a few instruments, • most of which were damaged, the air wheels, and a portion | of the undercarriage, and a few minor parts, there was little worth salvaging. After Flight-Lieut. Bolt and Ms men had taken everything they wanted, they gave away a few pieces of fabric, etc., to people who had come to see the wreckage, and then heaped together what was left and burnt it. Mr. Nisbet estimated the value of tho wrecked machine, which was uninsured, at about £550. ■ . TRIBUTE TO AIR DIRECTOR. Grateful appreciation on behalf of the club for the assistance given by> the general public both before and after the wrecked machine was discovered was expressed by Mr. Nisbet. He also paid a special tribute to the part played by the Director of Air Services, Squadron-Leader T. M. "Wilkes. Immediately he was advised that the machine was missing, Squadron-Leader Wilkes took charge of the arrangements for the search by land, air, and wireless. He was on dut3' until 2 o'clock yesterday morning, and was out. at Hie Rohgotai Aerodrome at daybreak, subsequently leading the rescue party, which brought back the bodies. "He certainly left no, stone unturned, and was most untiring," said Mr ZXjsbet. ' . . ' ;