SIGNALS OF DISTRESS.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XII, Issue 231, 12 September 1922, Page 2

SIGNALS OF DISTRESS.

SEARCH UNAVAILING. ALL VESSELS ACCOUNTED FOR Auckland, Sept. 11. Nothing definite lias been established in connection with the distress signals seen north of Hokianga on Saturday evening. Investigation shows that the signals were certainly seen, people at Awanui settlement seeing rockets, and those at. Ahipara seeing lights, which were also seen by an engineer at the Awanui wireless station while motor cycling from Awanui to the station. It is stated that the rockets were alternately ;red and blue. The small steamer Ohinemuri was unable to search to-day owing to the Whangape bar being unworkable, but to-morrow she will leave at mid-day, making a zig-zag course to Onehunga, going 40 miles out to sea. There is still a hard north-east gale, but practically no rain. The scow Kapua is safe in Herekino harbour, and as regards the scow Alaroro, which left Whangape for Sydney on Friday, she should have been 150 miles out at the time the lights were seen. It was thought in the district that the vessel might have been a trawler, but inquiries here show that no Auckland trawlers nro on that coast at present. All other vessels in the vicinity have been accounted for. A cattle barge 28 feet long has been washed ashore 20 miles south of Cape Maria and 15 miles from where the scow Haere is ashore. It has not been long in the water, and could not be connected with the signals.