LINER REPORTED AFIRE

Taranaki Daily News, 14 June 1929, Page 11

LINER REPORTED AFIRE

T HE STORY NOT CONFIRMED EXCITEMENT ON THE EAST COAST CANADIAN TRANSPORTER SAFE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Gisborne, Last Night. Some excitement was caused in Gisborne this afternoon on receipt of the news-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 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 p.m. the Lottin Point postmaster further reported: “The vessel appears to be an oil-burner with one white funnel —a Home liner. The smoke has subsided and everything appears to be normal again.” At 5.30 p.m. a third report came from the Lottin Point postmaster as follows: “A vessel, probably the Mako, is working Lottin Point to-night. It has been sighted , and could render 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 the fire to the liner, for at 8.15 the chief postmaster at Gisborne reported: “The Canadian Transporter has signalled ‘no fire; all weH.’”’. „ , . Lottin Point is a small village about ten mites from’Hicks Bay, at the extreme edge of. the Bay of Plenty. The Mako mentioned in the message is. a small coaster running between Gisborne and Auckland.