AUCKLAND HOAXED.

Otago Witness, Issue 3832, 23 August 1927, Page 60

AUCKLAND HOAXED.

STORY OF A DISASTER. CURIOUS CROWDS STAND IN RAIN. AUCKLAND, August. 19. A sensational hoax- was perpetrated in Auckland this afternoon. It was • reported that a serious explosion had occurred at the Prisons Department, quarry at Rangitoto Island, and that two men had been killed and four injured. As there is no communication with the island except by signal three hours elapsed before the story’ could bo fully investigated and finally disproved. The first intimation was received bv telephone at: the Mount Eden Gaol shortly after mid-day. The message stated there had been a serious accident in blasting ojicrations- involving, death or injury to several persons. The informant said he was speaking from the Mount Victoria signal station. He further stated that a doctor had gone out in a launch from Devonport. Little time was wasted bv the officials at the gaol in making all preparations for the transportation of the dead and injured on arrival in the city, lhe police ami the St. John Ambulance were communicated with, and all was ready in quick time.

Meanwhile rumours of the accident had been circulated in the city, and shortly after 1 o’clock a crowd.- commenced to ■gather near the private launch steps, and the police van also made its appearance. In order to keep back the crowd a space was roped, in at the head of the steps. This space was reserved for the privileged—the superintendent of the gaol and warders, a sergeant of police, and two constables. Several Harbour Board officials. and the men of the St. John Ambulance staff.

Outside the enclosure the crowd clustered in large numbers. All wei3 on the tiptoe of excitement, and-. waned .expeetiantly. for the coming of, the launch which was to bring, the- men. Heavy rain fell, but the crowd did not waver. ‘The arrival of the mortuary van served only to tighten pent-up nerves nud to strengthen suppressed feeling. By 2.30 the crowd was beginning to feel the strain of watching, and when a heavy ' shower set in there was a rush for the shelter of the wharf. However, there was ■ no relaxation of the watch, and whenever , a launch pushed its nose past the end of the central wharf there was a rusfi towards the steps.

Doubt regarding the authenticity of the story at length began to enter the minds of the gathering. It was learned that the Mount Victoria station had reported that it had received no message Lom Rangitoto Island. Reports were received from Devonport that the men who had gone out to the Harbour Board ■ quarry on the island to pay the employees had returned professing ignorance of any untoward occurrence.

With a feeling that there still might be something in the story the crowd refused to depart. The ambulance and the police were still on the scene. The first definite news of the falsity of the rumours came with the return of the brunch which had been chartered to make the trip to the island. Reluctantly the people began to disperse. A few lingered awaiting the movements of ambulances and the police van. However, these left shortly before 4 o’clock. The credence which was given to the story would undoubtedly have been shortlived but for the fact that there is no telephonic communication between the island and the city. Rangitc ois practically isolated, and any message has to be forwarded by signal. This loaves the way open for such practical jokes as the one practised to-day.