A WIDESPREAD NET

Evening Post, Issue 20, 23 July 1935, Page 10

A WIDESPREAD NET

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) DANNEVIRKE, This Day. Mr. Armstrong is an expert pilot and has never taken unnecessary risk's. He usually carried food and matches in the aeroplane. If he is down in rough country it is almost certain he will stay by the aeroplane as it has more chance of being seen than a man walking. It is believed he would have no hesitation in setting the aeroplane on fire as a last resort. ■

Several machines went up before 7 o'clock from the sole base at Takapau this morning, the Moths working in

pairs. The East Coast Airways Dragon, working from Hastings to Palmerston North and back had not returned at noon. ' " .

Flying-Officer Buckeridge returned at 10 o'clock from a search over the Pahiatua, Woodville, and Weber districts. He went along the Ruahines but had nothing to report. The conditions were better than yesterday.

The emergency radio corps from Hastings and Napier have a base station at 'Takapau. Two members left early this morning to join the foot search party organised by Mr. R. J. Macdonald. All the parties are equipped with portable receiving and transmitting sets. A party is ready at the Whakarara Mill for instant departure if anything is seen by the aeroplane.

Four other parties are out, chiefly in the Whakararas, and the police have organised parties in Apiti also equipped with portable radio. An Air Force Moth from Christchurch arrived this morning, and another from Palmerston North. This came from Auckland yesterday, piloted by Flight-Lieutenant Buckley. .- It searched the Mangaweka up to the Kaimanawas and Kurepapango and then back to Takapau over very hilly country. It was snowing hard at 7000 feet.

There are twelve aeroplanes at the operating base at Takapau. FlightLieutenant Gerrand, who is in charge of the operations, says it would seem most likely that Mr. Armstrong is down at the back of the Whakararas. ■The searching machines are now concentrating attention on the big ridges there and ground parties are also investigating the ridges. Some of this country is among the roughest in the Dominion.