SEA ALARM

Evening Star, Issue 22631, 24 April 1937, Page 14

SEA ALARM

VESSEL REPORTED IN DISTRESS MUCH STIR AND SEARCH OVER NOTHING PROBABLY TRAWLER HAULING CATCH BY FLOODLIGHT .. ■ ,<• [Fes United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, April 2*. Floodlights used by a trawler, probably the Nora Niven for,haul* ing in her catch at night, are believed to have been mistaken for distress signals reported to have been seen off Kekerangu. Considerable anxiety and activity on the part of shipping and’ Other officials was caused last night and this morning when a report was received that a vessel was in distress. WHEN TRAWLER ROLLED LIGHTS WOULD SIMULATE SIGNALS [Pa: United Phess I Assoctatkw.] a WELLINGTON; April -241 The chief officer of. the 'Storm, which arrived this morning ; froffi : Lyttelton, stated that at 9.30 last night the Storm was off Kekerangu, and a trawler, which he took to be; the Nora' Niven, was working two miles off shore in that locality. When the Storm drew parallel with the trawler the latter switched on the head lights used for the'purpose of trawling at jnight. - There was a fairly heavy southerly swell, and the rolling made it appear as if the floodlights: were flashing. When off Cape Campbell at 10.30 tha Storm passed the Paua and Port Waikato. The lightning last night Was. frequent, and may have contributed to the reports of rockets. Several large flashes could have been.taken

for”rockets by someone on shore*

The. Acting Director-General of the Post and Telegraph Department state* that the lighthouse peeper at Lyttelton reports that-he can see as far as Kaikonra, and no- vessel can ,be sighted, unless it is on the beach. No vessel has yet , reached Lyttelton, PSSSiIU. FORKED LIGHTKIKC [Per Untied Press Association.} CHRISTCHURCH, April 24. Reports of a ship in distress near Kekerangu have been checked by shipping- men who discount the original theory. . , , Captain Morgan, master of th* Rangatira, searched the area from which the signals were reported,_ and on arrival at Lyttelton to-day said ha saw nothing substantiating the report. The Rangatira communicated with th# trawler Nora Niven, which was working all night off the Kekerangu coast, arm received a reply that she had.-noi seen the ’signals or a ship in distress. Captain Morgan’s own theory wa# that a display of forked lightning. between 9 and 9.30 p.m. was mistaken by people on shore tor a ship’s rocket.

Two messages from Wellington ovem night read: —

The Post and Telegraph Department received advice from Kekerangu that a steamer of considerable size was seen, to be in distress at 9.80 to-night, about six miles south offshore from Kekerangu. At 9.55 another steamer wa« reported to be standing by the disabled vessel, hut information was not definitely certain on the point. .. Th* weather was dear and the sea calm. Later advices state that the follow* ing vessels are probably in th* vicinity Port Waikato, Wakskurs, and the Nora Niven. A Blenheim r» port states that Mr Trolove, of Kekerangu, reports that it appears ■ that the disabled vessel is moving slowly southwards. She is probably being tendered by a small vessel, which apparently arrived about 9 o clock > bull ft is difficult to state accurately what is hapepning. . . ~ The report that the signals seen might have been the Wakafcura using Verey lights is not confirmed by the naval authorities at Wellington, who state that this is most unlikely. Th* postal authorities here received •, « wireless report from Captain Morgan, of toe Rangatira, stating that to* Rangatira searched the area where th« ship was reported to be in distress, but there was no sign of any suto vessel in toe locality indicated. Tbs trawler Nora Niven, working in the same area, also reports no sign. Both ships are continuing the search. Tbf weather is clear andT toe visibility very good. .