STOP PRESS ITEMS

Evening Star, Issue 19765, 16 January 1928, Page 12

STOP PRESS ITEMS

AIR SEARCH NEGATIVE. The Minist *r o!‘ Defence (tho U<»u. Mv llollcston) stated to-day iliai tlie report from the master of the f\aiwarra hail been carclully perused, ami while it was very definite, rgimhng the sighting ol the ’plane in the vicinity of Porinm harbor at .11 p.m., no trace Jiacl been found on any of the beaches or surrounding country to indicate that a landing had been made The searching aeroplanes had covered the whole of the country between Cape Palliser and Wanganui Heads, and as Captain Findlay; had the assistance; of two observers with powerful glasses, and visibility was perfect, there was no reason to think now that the airmen wore anywhere in that vicinity. Captain Findlay even flew lower over the valleys than could bo deemed safe to convince himself that every valley should he viewed Practically every portion of the country along the coast, as stated above, and inland from east of Otnki to Palliser Pay had boon searched The Director of Air Services (Major Wilkes) made the following statement;—-With reference to Captain Davies's statement that two flares Were seen to drop from the aeroplane, it Ims been definitely established that: no flares wore carried, and the suggestion previously made that union waste M.aimd in petrol was lighted and thrownfrom the machine can be dismissed as the great danger of a naked light In an aaopbine would certainly, mu be entertained by pilots of MovcriefTs and Hood’s experience No navigation lights were o-vred as part of the nircriit's criinoincnt, and the light, small pork t torches stal'd to have been handed to MoncriefT before taking .■if could not be sen' from a distance from which the engine could not be heard, in any case, the beam of light would in all probability bo directed on the instrument;.;, which were, situated in, the front of the cockpit, well forward of the leading edge of the ’plane, and therefore could not illunrnate it. In his statement Captain Davies refers to the upper part of the ’plane, but no light in the cabin, however powerful, could light up the upper surface, and observers from below, could nob see it.—Press Association.