TASMAN FLIGHT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 4 February 1928, Page 7

TASMAN FLIGHT

AEROPLANE SEEN FROM KAIWARRA STATEMENT ADHERED TO (United Press Association) AUCKLAND, 3rd Feb. The captain of the steamer Kaiwarra and' six other persons bn the steamer, which is now in Auckland, are convinced in the face of all contradictory reports that they saw the ill-fated aeroplane containing . Lieutenant Moncrieff and Captain Hood flying over Porirua at 11 p.m. on 10th January. The Kaiwarra was then in Cook Strait bound from Wellington to Sydney. A wireless message stating that the machine had appeared over Stephen Island had been received and instructions for a lookout to port were given. It came as a surprise when the chief steward reported that he could discern an aeroplane to starboard. The first officer was summoned, the captain followed, and the party was joined by the wireless operator, the chief cook, the second cook and the assistant steward. -411 agreed that they could pick out the lines of a moving aeroplane over the land near Porirua. “I am satisfied beyond all doubt that we saw the missing ’plane,” said Captain R. Davies yesterday. “The moon threw a light on the machine in a patch of-clear sky, and while we watched the aeroplane described two circles and dropped two flares, which vanished before reaching the ground. The moving speck then vanished behind a cloud after having been under observation for at least three minutes.” 1, Captain Davies said he was aware that the aviators did not carry the approved type of flare. He had, however, since spoken to an air force sergeant, who was one of the last to speak to the airmen before the machine left Sydney. The sergeant had passed the aviators two large wads of cotton waste with the remark that the material might prove useful. Several feet of rubber tubing had also beqfi placed - in the machine. It had been suggested that it would be quite possible to make a good flare by syphoning petrol on to' the waste and dropping it clear.