CORROBORATION MULTIPLIES

Evening Star, Issue 19763, 13 January 1928, Page 6

CORROBORATION MULTIPLIES

[.Special to the ‘ Star,’] WELLINGTON, January 13. Though searchers on the Tararuns and at sea have negative reports so far, the authorities arc receiving further reports of happenings on the night when the Tasman flight should have ended. Several reports are corroborative of the machine being in the vicinity of Cook Strait. The postmistress at Manakau received this morning the following communication, signed by R. B. Kilgour and E. Kilgour: “ We do hereby declare that on the night of the 10th, about 11.45 p.m., we distinctly heard the drone of an aeroplane passing down Waitohu valley. Our attention was drawn to the matter by a number ot calves in a small pndd.a-k close to our house stampeding, and roaring.” Waitohu valley is situated between Manakau and Otnki. The postmistress adds that Kilgour is cpiite reliable. His farm is some throe mi Jos from the main road, and nob subject to the motor traffic. The chief postmaster, Wanganui, wired to-day:—“Am advised that Campbell and five others at Maxwell saw an aeroplane at 8.40 p.m. on the 10th. 1 expect Campbell here shortly to make a sworn statement, when J will confirm.” Tlie police have received a written statement from Charles A. Kiddy, a resident of Horokiwi valley, near Petone. He and his family watched for the aeroplane, and had the wireless report that it had been seen from Stephen’s Island. After this they saw a red glow towards Cook Strait, which kept fading and brightening. It was travelling towards Trentham, and was ten miles away. They did not see the outline of a ’plane or hear the engine. “The machine,” lie states, "appeared to he duo west of my house, and looked as if it wore travelling along tho range of hills, going backwards and forwards. Mr Kiddy lit a gorse fire as a guiding signal. Ho had the glow in view from 9.15 till 10.”