RUMOUR MONGERS BUSY

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 8 April 1929, Page 5

RUMOUR MONGERS BUSY

SOUTHERN CROSS MYSTERY.; ! CONFLICTING REPORTS. SEARCH PLANE MISSING. (United t'rcss A.nsimuiuuii,By Klef-un- Telogrupi. Opyiigm.) (Australian l'ress Association.) SYDNEY, April 17. Rumour and. speculation but no news j summarises tne position yesterday regarding tlie search for the Southern dross. A report that the plane had come down in the neighbourhood of Thurburn Uluit, north-west of the Cambridge Gulf gained circulation, and tuough the report was dubious a search was organised and native parties were employed to scour tne country there, and otner areasi wnich are being combed. Captain Chater was overdue at Derby last mgnt alter a search ol the Port George district. He may have been compelled by magneto trouble to stay at luunja station. Keith Anderson, a former companion of Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith and lieutenant Ulm, proposes to leave Richmond to-day in fxie W estland monoplane Kookooburra to join in tbe searcli. He and tbe missing leaders were recently involved in litigation regarding the Pacific flight, but they had been friends for years. Anderson a day or two ago said he would give anything to go and search for “the boys.” Another close friend of Kingsford Smith responded : “Right, I’ll back you.'’ Andersen rejoined: “1 want no money, but would give anytiling to go/ 7 So lie leaves in tlie jaookooburra to-day, and thus dramatically is given further evidence that true friendship brushes aside all differences in the hour of need. Humour-mongers were busy last night with cruel stones, all baseless. One was that the Southern Cross party had been found safe on an island on the north-west coast. Another stated that three men were found inland in a desperate plight. The fourth had been killed. This may have arisen out or the reported landing at Thurburn Bluff.

CAPTAIN CHARTER OVERDUE. •SMOKE SIGNALS” EXPLAINED. Pilot Wood left Wyndham yesterday ami new to Torrest River. He learned that five parties of natives were sent out on Tuesday. Gn returning they reported tnat they had received no news of the fliers. Two large parties left to .search the country west of horrest River. , Pilot Wood later flew to lhurburn Bluff where the Southern Cross was thought to be. He found that the smoke signals were only burning-oft fires. . . , The third AVestralian Airways plane from Perth has arrived at Derby. . An earlier message that Captain Chater, who is searching in a plane, had returned to i Derby was erroneous. It appears that the Sydney town clerk, Mr Gariick, received a ’phone message purporting to come from the telegraph office to the effect that Oliatcr had returned, but no wire confirming this was received. Advice from Derby stated that Chater w:as still missing. the telephone message was evidently another of the mysterious land that nave been received during the last few days. Captain Holden, in the Canberra, has arrived at Alice Springs and is expected at Wyndham to-morrow night. Keith Anderson, in a lnonop.anc, nas left Richmond for Maiee. lhe plane has a range of 1100 miles. Anderson has an excellent knowledge ol tbe country. CANADIAN VIM BET ES VANCOUVER. April 5 % The number of inquiries made for tne lacev- word of Kingsrord-Sn.ith testifies to the esteem m which he is held iuio. The hope is general tint Kmgs-ford-Smitn and Ulm will be round sa.e The interest bisplaye I, tlio:u:b of more anxious degrees, equals that wmc.i followed breathlessly the movements over the Pacific. NEW HOPE RAISED. POSSIBLY NEAR- PORT GEORGE. Received 11 mm. to-day. SYDNEY, April 8. The fact that- it- is known the Southern Cross flew over Port George has raised new hone in the week-old quest. It is thought'now that the monoplane must be within reasonable distance ot the Port George mission. . The aeroplane Canberra (Captain Holden) has arrived at Newcastle. It is stated it is not now advisable that any more aeroplanes should join m the search, as netrol supplies in the search area are running low and further planes would embarrass the position.