TASMAN FLIGHT MYSTERY

Taranaki Daily News, 17 July 1930, Page 10

TASMAN FLIGHT MYSTERY

HOOD AND MONCRIEFF’S FATE

ALLEGED CRASH IN WILD COUNTRY

PRECIPITOUS BENMORE LOCALITY.

Bounded on one side by the notoi’ious Tar-Barrel Pass on the main south road to Christchurch and on the other by. the Pacific Ocean which beats against precipitous limestone cliffs pierced here and there with scrub-covered gullies, Mr. A. R. Woodings’ property is the only one in the 14 miles between Ward and Kekerangu on whch difficulty would be experienced in finding Captain G._ Hood and Lieut. J. N. Moncrieff’s plane had it landed within,2oo yards of the coast after its tragic Tasman flight in January, 1928. Once over the southern divide of Mr. Wooding’s property the road follows the seacoast for miles and forms +the eastern boundary of Wharenui, Benmore, Pirohanga and Kekerangu sheep stations, the homesteads of each being within a short distance of the coast.

The Bemnore country 'is extremely difficult, Benmore itself being one of the most treacherous peaks in the Marlborough district. It was on this mountain in 1927 that Eric Lee Palmer, a school teacher at Wharenui and a brilliant university student, lost his life when he was overtaken by mist. Although large parties scoured the bush and hills with the aid of dogs some days elapsed before bis body was found.

UNKNOWN ‘CAPE” MENTIONED.

CONFLICTING LOCATIONS GIVEN.

Wellington, July 16. .

Private cable advice gives more exactinformation of the alleged location according to spiritualistic advice of the Hood and Moncrielf plane. It states that the crash occurred in a gully 200 yards from the coast, 22J miles south from Cape Graham and four to six miles south of Ward and gives the latitude as 42 degrees 5 seconds south, and longitude 174 degrees 3 seconds east. A point four to six miles from Ward is a long way from this and no such place as Cape Graham is on the map or known, to navigators. Both the locations are on, or very close to, the main road and four miles south of Ward is the township of Mirza, on the railway. The latitude and longiture given are very near, if not at, the township of Kererangu and the neighbourhood is long settled farming country and the scene of present activity of the Public Works Department in building the main railway connection to Parnassus, Canterbury. The area is reported to have been very thoroughly searched at the time of the fatal flight, although the possibility of the aviators having reached the east coast of the South Island was very remote. It is recalled that the weather in the vicinity of Wellington at the time of. the flight was cloudless. Inquiries among settlers south of Ward show that nothing has ever been seen to substantiate the story of the Marrickville spiritualist, who declared the plane crashed there. The locality south of Ward for four miles corresponds with the property of either N. S. Andrews or A. R. Wooding. Mr. Andrews says his place is fairly open, with numerous gullies, some of which are very steep, but not obscured by bush. He has mustered all over the property repeatedly, and is of opinion that, if the plane had been wrecked there, he would have found traces. Mr. Wooding, however, is not so certain.' His country includes numerous scrub-obscured gullies, into some of which he has never penetrated. He says that there would be plenty of places where a dozen planes might have crashed without his knowledge. “I’ll go and have a look when I get time,” he concluded. i “There is nothing in that story,' said Flight-Lieutenant M. W. Buckley, of the Wigrani aerodrome, Christchurch, who conducted the aerial search along the coast and over the spot mentioned on the morning following the flight. -‘The place is right on the air route between here and Blenheim, and i» flown over every day or so. More than 200 planes must have passed over there since the Tasman flight was attempted, and it is practically impossible that a wrecked plane could have been missed.

With the passing of Mr. John McCarroll, whose death was reported last Thursday, there disappeared, states the Auckland Star, one of the staunchest Liberals in the Dominion. Mr.’ McCarroll’s homestead at what is now known as McCarroll’s Gap, 28 miles south of Whangarei, was an open home for any Liberal leader or Minister while in the north, and during his life the old l’ ion^ r entertained at various times all the great leaders of the party, from Seddon to Ward. It is interesting to recall that when Sir Joseph Ward paid his first visit to the Northland in connection with the proposed railway line he was the guest of the old Irish stalwart, who has now, so soon after, followed him to the Great Beyond.

The Hamilton High School football team arrives in New Plymouth to-mor-row to play the annual football match against the New Plymouth Boys Hign School on Saturday.

Attention is drawn to the advertisement in this issue of herd-testing group meetings to be held at the Tikorangi hall this afternoon and at Mr. Messenger’s office, Inglewood, to-night. Mr. Hume, the Dominion organiser, will deliver an interesting address at each of these meetings on herd-testing.

The Hustlers are opening a brane shop at Inglewood on Wednesday, July 1.5, with an opening sale showing tremendous Bargains. Prices are cut veiy drastically at both their shops. An inspection cordially invuted. You will be well satisfied if you do your shopping at The Hustlers, Drapers.

Of all functions held at Okato of late years none has proved more deservedly popular than the old timers’ ball, and the fourth one, which is to be held in the Hempton Hall, promises to eclipse its predecessors. The committee is making elaborate arrangements to cater for the enjoyment of a large crowd of dancers. With the floor in perfect order and the music supplied by Renton’s Dance Band, a great time is assured. Gibson’s bus will leave New Plymouth. With six Norwich canaries, Mr. G. V. Lambert, New Plymouth, won two cups, three special, prizes, 13 firsts, three see- , oiids at the Wanganui, Stratford and New Plymouth shows.