SEEN FROM THE KAIWARRA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 16 January 1928, Page 5

SEEN FROM THE KAIWARRA

STATEMENT MAINTAINED • (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Australian A N.Z. Cable' 'Aseociationf

(Received 16th Jan., 10.30 a.m.) ?!. ' SYDNEY, This Day. On the 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 that he is absolutely certain the object sighted was an. aeroplane. Two flares were dropped and the outline- of the machine could be seen/ • .The ’plane was first seen by the chief steward, Belt Whistle, who'pointed it out to the officers. There was a heavy blade, cloud above the airmen. The machine was visible for three or fpur minutes; it circled round twice during this time and two flares were seen dropping slowly to the sea as if-made of some light "material, and a light, which was evkleritly in the cockpit to aid the pilot navigating, was reflected on the upper part of the ’plane. Tins enabled them to seq 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.- The ’plane flew to the east after completing the second circle, and that was the last they saw Captain Davies lias no doubt that the airmen are on the New Zealand coast somewhere. .- . , Questioned as to . the approximate height at which the aerop ane was travelling, Captain Davies said that he could not make an estimate apart from stating that the altitude was about 15 degrees. The machine was too far away for the jmgine to be heaid.