MISSING MOTH

Evening Star, Issue 22087, 22 July 1935, Page 6

MISSING MOTH

BELIEVED TO BE FORGED DOWN INTENSIVE SEARCH FROM AIR (Per United Press Association.] HASTINGS, July 21. Fears are entertained for the safety if Hamish Armstrong, who left his iome at Akitio, about 35 miles from Dannevirke, towards the coast, at 10 o’clock this morning in a Moth plane bound for Hastings, but has not been seen since. Mr Armstrong should have arrived at Hastings within two hours after leaving home, but no news has been received at the Hastings aerodrome of his having landed anywhere. Residents of Ongaonga, 15 miles inland from Waipukurau, heard a plane pass overhead at 11 o’clock this morning, flying towards Hastings, but it was not seen, and its description could not be given. A few minutes later a plane was heard over a timber mill situated ( on the banks of the Makarora River, in the Whakarara Ranges, The mill is about 10 miles airline from Ongaonga towards Hastings. Apparently it has been forced down in some isolated locality. NOT SIGHTED PALMERSTON N., July 22. Mr Duthie, pilot instructor to the Manawatu Aero Club, left shortly after 7 to join in the search fox- Armstrong, concentrating in the vicinity of Takanu, DANNEVIRKE, July 22. A plane piloted by Mr A. R. C. Claridge flew from Danrfevirke this morning practically to Keruru, keeping close to the hills, and returned without seeing anything of the missing plane. Conditions were then becoming worse.

SEEN ABOVE RUAHINES “ STRANGE SOUND—THEN SILENCE " HASTINGS, July 22. Three machines from the Hawke’s Bay Aero Club, manned by Flightlieutenant Gerrand, Flying Officer White (late R.A.F.), Stanley White (the England-Australia flyer), and Maurice Field, a member of the club, set out early to make a search in the Takapau district and along the Ruahines and Whakararas. They have been out since early morning, but had found no sign by noon to-day. It is ascertained that a young man out shooting near Ongaonga yesterday morning saw a plane, but lost sight of it a moment later. It seemed to be circling to find its way over the R,uahines to go thence across the Whakararas. “ Suddenly,” the young man tjays, “ there was a strange sound, then silence.” • 1

There is a likelihood of the electric line being extended from Beaumont to Rae’s Junction at an early date. The Otago Power Board has the matter under consideration.

Not since thly were opened in 1930 have the joint capacities of the Town Hall and the Concert Chamber been so severely taxed as was the case on Saturday night. The fixtures were the wrestling contest held in the main auditorium and the three one-act plays of the Little Theatre Society. Long before the doors of the two halls were opened lengthy queues were-formed, the one leading into the Concert Chamber, which held a crowd that overflowed on to the stairs, extending past the Town Hall, steps before 7 o’clock. The seating of the larger chamber allows for 3,000 .persons, arid that of the small one for 900. More than 4,000 attended both functions.

The postal auhorities advise that the Waitaki, due at Bluff on Tuesday morning from Melbourne, has 34 bags of Australian mail and four parcel receptacles for Dunedin. The mail is due -t the local office ou Tuesday evpn’ue.

Wednesday next is polling day in the Lyttelton by-election. The four candidates are Messrs M. E. Lyons (Coalition), T. H, M'Combs (Official Labour), E. T. Hills (Independent Labour), and G. S. Hamilton (Independent). An accident which befel a Rattray street business mail this morning serves to show that unleashed dogs in the city areas can be not only a nuisance but also a danger. The victim, while negotiating the street which was formerly the Arcade, paused to look at some pictures in a shop window. In the meantime two dogs, one an Alsatian and the other of a mongrel sheep dog type, became engaged_ in hostilities which made them oblivious of the rights of human passers-by.. Just as the innocent citizen was turning to resume his walk they rushed into him, striking him about the knees and toppling him over on to the pavement in such a manner that he fell directly on to his jaw bone. The man’s injuries, though not serious enough to prevent his going to work, are extremely painful. His jaw is stiff and swollen, and he bit his tongue in three Places. There was no owner of either og in sight.

To be Well, See Well, See Stunner.—W. V. Stunner, Optician, 2 Octagon, Dunedin. Consulting Opticians: W. V. Stunner, p 16., N.Z.; A. R. Watson. F. 1.0., S D. 0.. N.Z.-fAdvt.l The Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Association (Incorporated) will hold a meeting of all unemployed ex-servicemen in the R.S.A. social hall to-night. Brigadier-general A. E. Stewart, a trustee of the Canteen Funds Trust Board, will speak on these important funds. Other speakers will be members of the Executive Committee of the R.S.A. and Mr E. J. Anderson (chairman of the local committee of the Disabled Soldiers’ Civil Re-establishment League). It is the practice of the associal ion to meet all unemployed ox-servicemen once a year and discuss various important matters.

The half-yearly purplo lecture and past officers’ degree meeting of the Otago District, M.U .1.0.0. P., will bo held in Ihe Loyal Albion Lodge, Stuart street, on Thursday next, at 8 p.m.