DID THE “KAKA” DIVE INTO THE SEA ?

Grey River Argus, 28 October 1948, Page 7

DID THE “KAKA” DIVE INTO THE SEA ?

I Ongarue Passed By It P.A WELLINGTON, Oct. 27 Before the House of Representatives rose to-night, Hon. W. Nash read a message from the Police Department, received at 8.40 to-nighi stating: ’‘Four search parties were out at Kopaki, and had returned, tne search being fruitless. “An area officer called on SeniorSergeant Taylor, at Taumarunui, and reported that the Postmaster at Kawhia had definitely identified a passenger plane at about 2.30 p.m. or 3 p.m. on Saturday last. “Sixteen planes are going out ovei Waitomo to-morrow. Ground and search parties are going to that area also." Another police message reported that a search of the bush country in the Ongarue and Waimaiha districts had proved fruitless, and said it has now been established that the illfated plane has crashed north of that area. Hamilton police and bushmen . are searching country below Te Kuiti. It is now surmised that the plane may have gone down in the sea, out from Kawhia.

TINY LAKE MISTAKEN FOR PLANE An example of fine co-ordination between the ground and air search was given in the Waitomo area today. A silver object has been sighted, from the ground, in wild country near Waitomo. A ground search party struggled into the vicinity, of the object, and then radioed for a plane to be sent .in to the search area. Ten minutes after their radio message had been received ,two aircraft were right over the silver object. Twenty minutes later, they were jointed by another Auster aircraft. After a close search of the area they reported that the silver was a small lake, glinting in the sun. Parties moved south from Horokino, north from Pukemaku, and east from Bennydale and Mangapehi. This concentration of ground effort followed a confirmed report that a large sliver plane with red markings was seen passing near Waimiha on Saturday afternoon. Some police regard Waimiha as the most northerly point at which the Kaka has been traced with any degree of certainty.