FALSE ALARM OF FIRE ON STEAMER EXCITES GISBORNE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18785, 14 June 1929, Page 13

FALSE ALARM OF FIRE ON STEAMER EXCITES GISBORNE.

CANADIAN VESSEL APPEARED IN TROUBLE, REPORTED TELEGRAM. Per Press Association. GISBORNE. June 13. ‘ Some excitement was caused in Gisborne this afternoon on receipt of news that a laree liner, later identified as the Canadian Transporter, was appar entlv on fire in the Bay of Plenty, but later advice was to the effect that the renort was incorrect. The first news came through at 410 p.m., when the chief postmaster at Gisborne. received the following message from the postmaster at Lottin Point: Large steamer proceeding south, about eight miles out at sea. appears to be on fire, but am unable to get any details. At 4.30 p.m. the Lottin Point post master further reported r Vessel appears to be oil-burner, one white funnel, Home liner. Smoke, subsided. Everything appears . normal again. At 5.30 a third report came from the Lottin Roint postmaster as follows: A vessel, probably the Mako, working Lottin Point to-night, has been sighted, and could render anv assistance necessary. Between 5.30 and eight 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 fire to the liner, for at 8.15 the chief postmaster at Gisborne reported : - j Canadian Transporter signalled no ; fire. All well. Lottin Point is a small village some 1 ten miles from Hicks Bay, at the ex- ! treme edge of the Bay of Plenty. The I Mako mentioned in the message is a f small coaster running between Gisborne and Auckland.