Manawatu Evening Standard, Tuesday 3 August 1909, page 2
THE AIRSHIP MYSTERY — A REPORT FROM GORE
Per Press Association
Gore, August 2
The airship is still visiting the South Island, and in an interview with the Standard published this morning two people named Brand, who were keeping a lookout on Saturday night gave their impressions. At 11.30pm on Saturday Mrs Brand, looking out of a back window, noticed a bright light in the air in the direction of the Blue Mountains. The light was much brighter than a star. Imagining it was moving she called Mr Brand. The two watched it for some time and distinctly saw an object which looked like an airship. The bright light was obscured at times by what appeared to be two large fans which covered the light first on one side and then on the other, and at times seemed to go completely round the light. The object was apparently making in a straight line, but with a motion like that of a boat. The object was in view for about half an hour, when it seemed to sink to the ground and was lost to sight. This, it is now thought, was on account of the object getting behind a cloud or mountain.
Mrs Brand was up again at 1am, and on looking out of a window was surprised to see the object in view, but this time it was much closer, seeming nearly over the Catholic Church at East Gore, but high up in the air. On this occasion three lights were visible. There was a light at two ends of the object, which was of good length, judging by the distance separating the lights, and some bright light looking very much like the headlights on an engine was seen burning. The object was making slow progress, and that the three lights were connected with each other was clearly proved by the fact that they moved at the same rate of speed.
The object was again seen at 3 o'clock in the morning by Mrs Brand, this time apparently directly overhead, but a long way up in the air.
Nelson, August 2
A Riwaka resident reports seeing a mysterious light in the sky on Saturday week, appearing first from the direction of D'Urville Island, crossing the bay towards Farewell Spit and then disappearing. It was seen for fully twenty minutes. It was the size of a bucket and kept rising and falling.
Manawatu Evening Standard, Tuesday 3 August 1909, page 5
A GREAT AIRSHIP JOURNEY
COUNT ZEPPELIN'S SUCCESS
By Electric Telegraph — Copyright
Per Press Association
Received August 3, 8.55 a.m.
Berlin, August 2.
Count Zeppelin, making a continuous journey, travelled from Friedrichshafen to Frankfurt in his airship. He carried seven passengers. The airship rose through a hailstorm to a height of 3000 feet, and passed over Ulm, Stuttgart, Hailbroun, Heidelberg, and Darmstadt. He made the journey in less than 12 hours.
Manawatu Evening Standard, Tuesday 3 August 1909, page 5
THE AIRSHIP MYTH
Per Press Association
Nelson, August 3
The planet Mars, in conjunction with the prevailing airships fever, was responsible for a good deal of excitement in Nelson last night. The planet scintillated with unusual brilliancy, giving some observers the impression that the phantom airship, reported from various parts of the Dominion, was contemplating a descent. The news was carried to the theatre, where the Citizen's Band bazaar was in progress and the building was rapidly emptied. This incident may possibly explain some reports, where an airship has been deduced from the appearance of unusual lights.
Manawatu Evening Standard, Wednesday 4 August 1909, page 3
THE ALLEGED AIRSHIP
Per Press Association
Wellington, August 3
George Mitchell, a resident of Wellington, reports having seen from Island Bay what appeared like a large arc light out to sea which travelled out of sight. The light was far too high to be mistaken for a light on a ship's masthead.
Another person makes an independent report that he saw the light in the same direction at the same time, and says there appeared to be an opaque body above it. As nearly as could be estimated the light was about a quarter of a mile from the shore.
Manawatu Evening Standard, Wednesday 4 August 1909, page 3
THE PROBLEM OF FLIGHT
By Electric Telegraph — Copyright
Per Press Association
New York, August 3
The United States paid the Wrights 30,000 dollars, including bonus, because the speed of their aeroplane exceeded 40 miles an hour. Mr Edison, the famous inventor, prophesies that in 10 years aeroplanes will carry mails at a speed of 100 miles an hour.
Paris, August 3
M. Sommer, on the Farman biplane, in 110 minutes covered 70 miles at a height of 80 feet at Charlons Camp. This is a French record in duration.
Berlin, August 3
Count Zeppelin attempted to reach Cologne, but a strong wind and a defective motor forced him to return to Frankfurt.
Manawatu Evening Standard, Wednesday 4 August 1909, page 5
"AERIALITIS" AND THE PLANET MARS
Per Press Association
Napier, August 4
Napier had an attack of aerialitis last night, a mysterious light being visible in the heavens shortly after 7.30, and thenceforward for a couple of hours at varying intervals. It hovered in the western sky in the early part of the evening, but later moved eastward, and was finally seen due north.
Feilding, August 4
A mysterious light was seen in the eastern sky about 9.30 last night. It was described as very brilliant, but gradually floated away out of sight. The opinion of those who did not see it is that it was the planet Mars, which has been very brilliant at its rising lately.
Manawatu Evening Standard, Friday 6 August 1909, page 7
THE AIRSHIP MYSTERY
Per Press Association
Dargaville, August 5
Tom Hazelhurst, manager of Bailey's run at Kaihu, Northern Wairoa, informed a North Auckland Times reporter this afternoon that he had seen an airship pass the Kaihu coast about five miles from land. He watched it for fifteen minutes. On going down to the beach he missed sight of it, apparently through the height of the cliffs.
Dunedin, August 5
The Kelso correspondent of the Otago Daily Times has been informed by several people that they have seen the airship, which was recently reported to have been in that district, amongst the number being several Dunedin tradesmen working about six miles from Kelso. They state that on July 24th they saw the airship distinctly. It circled round several times, and then went in the direction of the Hokonui mountains, returning some hours later, and sailing towards the Blue Mountains.
Lights were also seen on Saturday evening, and it is stated the noise of some machine was also heard.
Manawatu Evening Standard, Tuesday 10 August 1909, page 5
THAT AIRSHIP — STONEY CREEK HAS A VISION
NUMEROUS WITNESSES SEE AN ORANGE-TINTED LUMINARY
Stoney Creek [Palmerston North] is at present in a state of mild excitement. It has seen the airship. Not one, but many witnesses have come forward to brave the sarcasm of their fellows by declaring their unmistakeable conviction that they have been visited by a strange light. This orange-tinted luminary, whatever it is, seems to have appeared at all hours of the night, at all points of the compass, and at all altitudes. It travels at various rates of speed and the witnesses are firm in their conviction that they have not been misled by the white effulgence of Jupiter or the crimson glory of Mars. Their new light is orange-tinted.
One informant is a man of unimpeachable intelligence and sound common sense, and has been turned from a callous sceptic into an enthusiastic disciple, not merely by the many stories of other witnesses, but by the sure evidence of his own senses. Mr T. Stagpoole, headmaster of the Stoney Creek school, has been good enough to supply us with the following data respecting the nocturnal visitant:—
Mr Coman, the well-known roadman, was returning from town at about 5 o'clock on Sunday night when he saw a balloon-shaped object in the western sky travelling towards the ranges. He is a man of exceptionally good sight, having been a crack rifle shot in his time, and declares he was not mistaken.
On Sunday night Mr Donald, of Bunnythorpe, and Miss Powell, of Church Street East, saw an orange-coloured light travelling towards the ranges from the sea.
On Sunday night at about a quarter past eleven Mr Stagpoole himself saw a red-orange-coloured light travelling from the ranges back towards the sea.
On Sunday night Mrs Toxward and children saw a strange reddish-orange-coloured light moving over the ranges.
This morning one of Mr Stagpoole's schoolboys, Frank Fugle, got up by mistake at 4.30, and saw a very large orange-coloured light coming right up the Manawatu River and travelling at an altitude of about 100 feet. He declares it started near Hokowhitu and travelled in the direction of Ashhurst. The light appeared to flash from side to side but he could not distinguish any body behind it, owing to the dense darkness.
At 5 o'clock this morning David Kruse and his uncle, Mr Byers, saw the orange light going south over the ranges.
Questioned by our somewhat sceptical representative Mr Stagpoole was very pronounced about the absurdity of mistaking the visitor for one of the heavenly bodies. He had heard many other rumours about it being seen flying over Palmerston late at night, and he estimated it travelled at about twenty-five miles an hour.
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A Palmerston resident the other night saw an airship containing a man and a lady, who were accompanied by a number of parrots. The airship made a descent on his property, and a man endeavoured to remove a parrot from the resident's premises, but after a fierce struggle was beaten off. Then the resident woke up.
REPORTS FROM OTHER PLACES
SYDNEY AND WAIHI
By electric telegraph—Copyright
Per Press Association
Received August 10, 10.55am
Sydney, August 10
Mysterious lights have been seen over the highlands at Mossvale at an elevation of 2000 feet. They are supposed to be from a balloon or an airship. The lights were also witnessed by passengers on the Melbourne express.
Per Press Association, Waihi, August 10
Last night between 7 and 9 all the residents out of doors saw mysterious lights hovering close to the vicinity of the township. At first two lights were visible, but later four were distinctly seen travelling together. Their progress was slow, taking twenty minutes to travel about four miles.
Manawatu Evening Standard, Thursday 12 August 1909, page 5
AN EXPLODED MYSTERY — THE WAIHI SCARESHIP
The sequel to the airship mystery at Waihi came to light on Tuesday afternoon when the portion of a four-kite parachute, called "The Finbat," was picked up on the Tauranga road. The parachutes were attached together, each carrying a small vessel holding an inflammable substance.
