SIGNALS OF DISTRESS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13234, 20 July 1906, Page 5

SIGNALS OF DISTRESS.

BLUE LIGHTS SEEN IN

MERCURY BAY.

Mr. At,f.x. Bosk, Collector of Customs, Auckland, has received a message from Whitianga, .Mercury Bay, to the effect that blue lights were seen burning in the direclion of Oliena Wand, Mercury Bay, on Tuesday night, and a further message was received yesterday, stating that the signals had been repeated on Wednesday night, liut the weather was too rough to,put off from Whitianga to render any assistance if such were necessary. Mr. Rose telegraphed to the Marine Department yesterday for instructions; and to ascertain whether a. vessel should be sent from Auckland to investigate the matter. In the meantime the Northern Steamship Company's steamer Apanui (Captain , McTiCod) "was held in readiness with steam up until about half-past seven p.m., when the pro-posed search was abandoned. This decision was come to on the grounds of the steamer Waiotalii, which passed the locality of the signals during Wednesday, having seen nothing unusunil there. The Waiotalii arrived at Tauranga yesterday. The Apanui will leave Auckland for Mercury Hay to-day, and will keep a sharp look out for any sight of shipwreck in the neighbourhood of where the signals were seen. She returns to Auckland to-morrow.

OTHER VESSELS IN THE Storm.

SOME ANXIETY FOR THEIR SAFETY.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Gisborne, Thursday.

Information as to the whereabouts of the schooners Waiapu and Kaco and the scow May (the latter bound from Auckland to Tokomaru), with a load of timber, if# sought. The anxiety about the vessels that' were sheltering is the greater because during the storm the wind, was very changeable, at times. *■

Mr. C. O. Dacre, the local agent for the auxiliary schooner Kaeo, received a telegram on, Wednesday to the effect that the Kaeo was on her way to Auckland, at which,.port she is expected to put in an appearance at any moment.