THE LOST AVIATORS.

Grey River Argus, 17 January 1928, Page 5

THE LOST AVIATORS.

SEARCH ABANDONED. By Ships and Planes. land partifsstill engaged. WELLINGTON, January 18. The sea search for the airplane has been abandoned. Land parties are still out in the back country north of Wellington and the West Coast of the South Island. Airplanes did not go up this morning as no incident was reported that promised results. The machines are standing by. Investigations on the Omega slope arc incomplete. The arrival of the Toia at 2 o’clock this morning terminated four and a-half days’ fruitless search. The Toia steamed nearly 400 miles and eov yed a large area west of Cook Strait. Ifrndio communication was established Lyvith the Ulimaroa, Kaponga and Dune-

18 Miles From Wellington. CAPTAIN OF KAIWARRA. REITERATES HIS CLAIM. SYDNEY, January 16. On arrival of the steamer Kaiwarra. from Wellington, several members of the crew declared that they saw Moncrieff and Hood’s monoplane, when the ship was about eighteen miles off Wellington. Captain Davies says ho is absolutely certain that the object sighted was the aeroplane. Two flares were drop ped, and the outline of the machine could be seen. The ’plane was first seen by the chief steward, Bort Whistle, who pointed it out to other officers. There was a heavy black cloud above the airmen. Tin* machine was visible for three or four minutes. It circled round twice. During this time two flares were seen dropping slowly to the sea, as if made of some light material, and a light which was evidently in the cockpit to aid the pilot navigating, reflected on the upper part of the plane. This enabled them to see the outline. This indirect light was more of a glare. The wireless operator likened it to a comet. It seemed that the intention of dropping the flares was to assist the pilot to look for a landing. It flew to the east after completing a second circle, and that was the last they saw of it. Davies has no doubt that the airmen are on the New Zealand coast somewhere.

Questioned as to the approximate height at which the aeroplane was travelling, Davies said he could not make an estimate apart from stating the altitude was about fifteen degrees. The machine was too far away for the engine to be heard. NOT SEEN BY ALEXANDER. NELSON, January .16. Captain McLeod, of the Anchor steamer Alexander, which has returned to Nelson from the West Coast, reports that his vessel crossed from Wanganui to Farewell Spit on the afternoon and evening of January JO, keeping special watch throughout, but saw nothing of the aeroplane. The steamer left Wanganui at 1.15 p.m., passed twelve miles north of Stephen’s Island at 9 p.m., and was off Farewell Spit at 2 a.m. The weather was clear, with passing clouds. There was not the faintest sign or sound of the aeroplane. MT. DUNDAS EXPLORED. NO TRACE OF ’PLANE FOUND. WELLINGTON, January 15. The Postmaster, Levin, advises that. a party searched Mangahao Valley, and traversed the ranges to the top of Alt. Dundas, 5090 feet, and found nothing. The weather was bleak, and owing to dense fog and sleet, the» country further back could not be explored. Postmaster, Westport, reports: Beaches between West port searched. Several mysterious happenings were investigated without result. The stretch between Oparara and Heaphoy River will be searched on Monday. The Postmaster, Nelson is arranging a search between Kahauranga Point ami Patarau River. The master of the schooner Fairburn passed close to the coast on Wednesday, and saw nothing of the airmen. He thinks that fires reported are bush fires, not signals. OBSERVED BY PIG HUNTER. BETWEEN ORONGORONGO AND LAKE WA IRA RAPA. WELLINGTON, January 16. The police have received instructions to search for the aviators even in the most remote parts of their districts. A pig-hunter on the high ridge between Orongorongo and Lake Wairarapa. says he saw the 'plane overhead on Tuesday night, heard a drone from it, and noticed the dull red glow as from the exhaust.

SYMPATHY OF NEW SOUTH WALES. k CONVEYED BY PREMIER BAVIN. AUCKLAND, January 16. The first act of the N.S.W. Premier Mr. Bavin, on arrival in Auckland today w*as to express the heartfelt sympathy of the people of his state with the relatives of Capt Hood and Lieut. Moncrieff. <<l regret very deeply indeed, and I feel that I can speak for the whole of the people of N.S.W., that the Tasman flight had such a tragic ending.” he said. I admired the pluck of these brave men tremendously, and only .wish that the venture could have had

a different termination. .1 would like to lake this opportunity of expressing my deep sympathy with the relatives of the men concerned. The Premier said that the result came as a distinct shock, in view of the fact that on seemingly authentic information, they had been informed of the successful arrival of the airmen in N. S.W.. ('apt. Knight had even made the announcement at a public dinner. MESSAGE FROM KNIGHT. SHIP’S LOG SHOWS THAT HEAD WIND PREVAILED. WELLINGTON. January 16. Captain Knight, who will arrive back from Sydney by the Mara ma tomorrow, sent the folowing radio message:— ‘‘Ships log shows not a westerly but an easterly vyind, which would delay the ’plane. The K.lawarra confirms its report and is satisfied that they arrived in New Zealand— Knight. ’ ’

Reports Discounted. DEFENCE MINISTER’S STATEMENT. FINDLAY’S THOROUGH SEARCH. WELLINGTON, January 16. The Minister for Defence (Hou. F. J. RolJeston) stated today that the report from the master of the Kaiwarra had been carefully perused, and while it was very definite regarding the sighting of the 'plane in the vicinity of Porirua Harbour at 11 p.m. no trace had been found on any of the beaches or surrounding country, to indicate that a lauding had been made. The searching for the aeroplane, had covered the whole of the country between Cape Palliser and the Wanganui Heads, and as Captain Findlay had had the assistance of two observers with powerful glasses, and the visibility wlas perfect, there was no reason to think now that the airmen are anywhere jTn tfcat ‘vicinity, f Capt.-1111 Findlay even flew lower in the outer valleys than could be deemed safe,

to convince himself that practically every portion of the country ;h eg the Coast, as stated, about and inland from east of Otaki to Palliser Bay. had boon searched. MAJOR WILKE'S REPORT. The Director of Air Services, Major Wilkes has made the following stat'ement with reference flo Captain Davie’s statement that two flares were seen to drop from the aeroplane: “II has been definitely established that no 1 lares were carried, and the suggestions previously stated that cotton waste soaked in petrol was lighted aud thrown from the machine, can be dismissed, as the great danger of a naked light in an aeroplane would certainly not be entertained by pilots of Moncrieff and Hood’s experience. No navigaton lights were carried as part of the aircraft’s equipment and the light of the small pocket torches, stated to have been handed to Moncrieff before taking off, could not be seen from a distance from which the engine could not be heard. In any case the beam of light would in all probability be directed on the instruments which were situated m front of the cockpit, well forward of the leading edge of the plane, and therefore could not illuminate it. In his statement, Captain Davies, refers to the upper parts of the plane but not the light in the cabin. However powerful it could light up the upper surface, observers from below could not see if. GUIDE'S INVESTIGATIONS. REPORT OF WRECK UNFOUNDED. WELLINGTON, January 16. The following message was received at 6.40 last night, by the Secretary of the Post and Telegraph Department (Mr G. McNamara) from the Postmaster at Featherston: Chief Guide Crass reports that the object sighted by Mr G. Phillips, and pointed out to me, proved on investigation to be a grey rock almost covered by a white lichen. BUCKLEY RETURNS TO CHRISTCHURCH. BLENHEIM, January 16. Captain Buckley this afternoon received instructions from Wellington to return in the D.H. 9 to Christchurch, and the ’plane left here at 2.40 in splendid, clear weather.

Queenslander’s Venture. WITH SIMILAR 'PLANE. FITTED WITH FLOATS. SYDNEY, January Hi. Captain I*. Moody, late of the Queensland Air Service, announced uis intention to attempt a flight from Australia to New Zealand ,also a rereturn flight. It is stated that the machine to be used is a Ryan monoplane, similar to Moncrieff and Hood’s, but it will be fitted with floats. Mrs. Moody will probably accompany her husband on the flight. It is understood to be the intention of Moody to land on the New Plymouth racecourse. LATER. Captain Moody was formerly senior pilot of the Queensland Air Services. He will interview tEe authorities with a view to making satisfactory arrangements, and thinks he will use a seaplane, thereby complying with _the