REPORT OF SHIP IN DISTRESS

Southland Times, Issue 23183, 26 April 1937, Page 4

REPORT OF SHIP IN DISTRESS

ORIGINAL THEORY DISCOUNTED DISPLAY OF LIGHTNING SUSPECTED (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, April 24. Floodlights used by a trawler, probably the Nora Niven, for hauling in the catch at night, are believed to have been mistaken for distress signals reported to have been seen off Kekerangu (between Cape Campbell and Clarence River on the East Coast). Considerable anxiety and activity on the part of shipping and other officials was caused last night and this morning when the report was received that a vessel was in distress. The acting Director-General of the Post and Telegraph Department states that the lighthouse keeper at Lyttelton reports that he can see as far as Kaikoura and that no vessel can be sighted unless it is on the beach.. No disabled vessel has yet reached Lyttelton. The story of the chief officer of the Storm which arrived this morning from Lyttelton stated that at 9.30 last night the Storm was off Kekerangu and a trawler which he took to be the Nora Niven was working two miles off shore in that locality. When the Storm drew parallel with the trawler the latter switched on the headlights used for the purpose of trawling at night. There was a fairly heavy southerly swell and rolling made it appear as if the floodlights were flashing. When off Cape Campbell at 10.30 the Storm passed the Paua and Port Waikato. Lightning last night was frequent and may have contributed to reports of rockets; several large flashes could have been taken for rockets by someone on shore. Reports of a ship being in distress off Kekerangu have been checked by shipping men who discount the original theory. Captain G. B. Morgan, master of the Rangatira, searched the area from which the signals were reported and on his arrival at Lyttelton today said he saw nothing substantiating the report. The Rangatira had communicated with the trawler Nora Niven which was working all night off the Kekerangu coast and received a reply that the Nora Niven had not seen any signals or a ship in distress. Captain Morgan’s own theory was that a display of forked lightning between 9 and 9.30 was mistaken by people on shore for a ship’s rocket.