AEROPLANE MISSING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20704, 30 April 1929, Page 12

AEROPLANE MISSING.

LOST DURING FLIGHT. GREAT ANXIETY FELT. CRpeciai. to Daily Times.) WELLINGTON, April 20. A telephonic communication from Blenheim at 3 p.m. to-day stated that five aeroplanes left Hastings this morning for Blenheim. Messrs Hall, Mercer, and Findlay arrived at Blenheim at mid-day, having called at Feilding. Captain Findlay and Mr Mercer left Feilding at 11.20 a.m., and Captain Chandler and Mr Burrell about 11.30 o’clock, Mr Burrell returned to Feilding, and Captain Chandler and his companion, Mr 0. A. Macdonald, proceeded alone. Messrs Mercer, Hall, and Captain Findlay reported that conditions over the strait were very bad from The Brothers onward, and at times they had to fly as low as 70 feet from the water. A good deal of anxiety is being felt In regard to the safety of Captain Chandler, who is instructor to the Marlborough Aero Club, and his companion, Mr C. A. Macdonald, secretary of the club. MISGIVINGS AT BLENHEIM. HEAVY FOG IN STRAITS. (Pee United Press Association!) BLENHEIM, April 20. Considerable anxiety is still being felt in Blenheim owing to the non-arrival of the Marlborough Aero Club's Moth plane, which left Parorangi, near Feilding, at 11.35 this morning. The machine was piloted by Captain Noel Chandler, the club's instructor, and Mr C. A. Macdonald, secretary of the club, was a passenger. The postmaster at Blenheim has arranged with all offices on the west coast of the North Island to report if there is any news. So far no information has been received. The Tamahine, which left Wellington at 8 o’clock, was asked to keep a lookout, but she reported that it was impossible to see more than a quarter of a mile in the straits. . STEAMERS TO SEARCH. ANNOUNCEMENT BY PRIME MINISTER. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, April 29. The Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) stated to-night that he would send out two steamers to-morrow to search for the missing airmen.