FALSE FIRE ALARM

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 689, 14 June 1929, Page 13

FALSE FIRE ALARM

SMOKE CLOUD ON LINER SHIP SIGNALS “ALL WELL” ! Press Association GISBORNE, Thursday. Excitement was caused in Gisborne this afternoon by a report that a large liner, later identified as the Canadian Transporter, was apparently on fire in the Bay of Plenty, but later advice was to the effect that the report was incorrect. The first news came through at 4.10 p.m., when the chief postmaster at Gisborne received the following message from the postmaster at Lottin Point, a small village about ten miles from Hicks Bay at the extreme edge of the Bay of Plenty:—“A large steamer proceeding south, about eight miles out at sea, appears to be on fire, but I am unable to get any details.” At 4.30 the Lottin Point postmaster further reported: “The vessel appears to be an oil-burner, one white funnel; Home liner. The smoke has subsided and everything appears normal again.” At 5.30 a third report came from Lottin Point, as follows:—“A vessel, probably the Mako, working Lottin Point tonight, has been sighted and could give any assistance necessary.” Between 5.30 and 8 o’clock the liner had turned the corner of the island on her run to Wellington and was well on her way down the east coast. Apparently the lighthouse-keeper at East Cape signalled the report of a fire to the liner, for at 5.15 p.m. the chief postmaster at Gisborne reported: “The Canadian Transporter has signalled: ‘No fire; all well.’”.