Amidst a wave of reports of "strange airship" in New Zealand in 1909, one report appeared in the newspaper Tuapeka Times, of Tuapeka, New Zealand, on July 31, 1909.
It said that an airship with two persons on board was seen at close quarters by two dredge hands engaged on the night shift on the Syndicate No. 2 dredge at 5 a.m.
The witnesses stated that the ship was lowered through the mist and circled round the vicinity, and that two figures were plainly discernable on board.
The airship was carrying lights at both ends. After theses manoeuvres, it "shot upwards." A yellow glare was noticed, and the weather clearing a little, the airship was seen travelling in a south-easterly direction.
At least two other newspapers I found published the same report; which appears in many ufology books.
Ufologist Tony Brunt found out that The Gore Standard newspaper had reported that the airship came down near Syndicate No 2 dredge working on a river in the Waikaka Valley some miles north of Gore. At about 5.00 a.m., two lights broke through the mist and then the forms of two figures sitting in the air machine could be seen. The airship was narrow and boat-shaped. The dredge winchman, Mr. F. Green, said the object came quite close to the dredge, circling around for several minutes as he and the second dredge man watched. At times it moved very fast and then slowed, at other times it would poise itself and then dip bird-like and rise again.
The object shot up into the mist leaving a yellow glare on the haze and then reappeared in a gap in the direction of Otakarama and disappeared. The master of the dredge arrived in Gore a few days later and he confirmed that his two men had seen the object. They watched it for some time before calling him from his sleep. However by the time he had dressed, the object had gone.
Tony Brunt also found that on the day of the sighting, the Clutha Leader newspaper published a letter from a correspondent who, like everyone else, had his own theory about the aerial visitors:
"Mr. Robert Grigor, surveyor, Balclutha, propounds a new theory which is certainly as feasible as the airship theory: 'With reference to the mysterious lights as seen at Sterling, Kelso, Milton and Invercargill, I make bold in all seriousness to look at the occurrence as a visitation from another world made by beings so far advanced in intellect and knowledge as at our present rate of progress in discovery and invention we may be at no very distant date.'"
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[Ref. as1:] "THE AUCKLAND STAR" NEWSPAPER:
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MORE AIRSHIP STORIES.(By Telegraph. —- Press Association.) GORE, this day. It is reported that an "airship" has been seen here for the last four or five nights. At Mandeville last night the mysterious visitor was distinguished at [?] p-m. passing at a great height, and travelling south with headlight attached. TIMARU, this day. A mysterious light, alleged to be an airship, passed over Timaru at 10 o'clock last evening. The harbour master (Captain Tait), interviewed this morning, said he had seen the light, and it was nothing more than a ball of concentrated electricity known to sailors as a "Jack o' lantern" — a frequent accompaniment of foggy weather. |
[Ref. tt1:] "TUEAPEKA TIMES" NEWSPAPER:
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AIRSHIP SEEN BY TWO DREDGE HANDS.AT CLOSE QUARTERSTWO PERSONS ON BOARD.GORE, July 30. Two dredge hands engaged on the night shift on the Syndicate No. 2 dredge were accorded a view of the airship at 5 a.m. at close quarters. They stated that the ship was lowered through the mist and circled round the vicinity, and that two figures were plainly discernable on board. She was carrying lights at both ends. After the visitor's manoeuvres she shot upwards. A yellow glare was noticed, and the weather clearing a little, the airship was seen travelling in a south-easterly direction. |
[Ref. wt1:] "WAIRARAPA DAILY TIMES" NEWSPAPER:
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THE SOUTHERN AIRSHIPAN ELUSIVE PHENOMENON. (By Telegraph -- Press Association.) TIMARU, Last Night The mysterious-light alleged to be an airship passed over Timaru at 10 o'clock last evening. The Harbourmaster, Captain Tait, said that he saw the light and it was nothing more than a ball of concentrated electricity known to sailors as "Jack o' the Lantern," a frequent accompaniment of foggy weather. GORE, Last Night Two dredge hands engaged on night shift on the Syndicate No. 2 Dredge were accorded a view of the airship at 5 a.m. at close quarters. They state that the ship lowered through the mist, and circled round in the vicinity, and that two figures were plainly discernible on board. She was carrying lights at both ends. After the visitors had manoeuvred she shot upwards. A yellow glare was noticed, and the weather clearing a little the airship was last seen travelling in a south-easterly direction. WESTPORT, Last Night A resident of the Buller district the other morning, at 4 o'clock, saw four times a mysterious object floating over Mount Rochfort, somewhat resembling a fire balloon, but it was too far off for him to judge accurately what the object was. |
[Ref. th1:] "TARANAKI HERALD" NEWSPAPER:
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DREDGE HANDS SEE AN AIR SHIP.Per Press Association GORE, July 30. Two dredge hands engaged on the night shift on Syndicate No. 2 dredge were accorded a view of the air ship at 5 a.m. at close quarters. They state that the ship lowered through the mist and circled round the vicinity, and that two figures were plainly discernible on board. She was carrying lights at both ends. After the visitor had manoeuvred, she shot upwards. A yellow glare was noticed. The weather clearing a little, she was seen travelling in a south-easterly direction. |
[Ref. tb1:] TONY BRUNT:
Tony Brunt reported that in the early morning of July 30, 1909, a sighting created great interest in Southland, New Zealand. The Gore Standard reported that 'the airship' came down near Syndicate No 2 dredge working on a river in the Waikaka Valley some miles north of Gore. At about 5.00am, two lights broke through the mist and then the forms of two figures sitting in the air machine could be seen. The ship was narrow and boat-shaped. The dredge winchman, Mr F. Green, said the object came quite close to the dredge, circling around for several minutes as he and the second dredgeman watched. At times it moved very fast and then slowed, at other times it would poise itself and then dip bird-like and rise again.
The object shot up into the mist leaving a yellow glare on the haze and then reappeared in a gap in the direction of Otakarama and disappeared. The master of the dredge arrived in Gore a few days later and he confirmed that his two men had seen the object. They watched it for some time before calling him from his sleep. However by the time he had dressed, the object had gone.
On the day of this sighting the Clutha Leader published a letter from a correspondent who, like everyone else, had his own theory about the aerial visitors:
Mr. Robert Grigor, surveyor, Balclutha, propounds a new theory which is certainly as feasible as the airship theory. He writes:
"With reference to the mysterious lights as seen at Sterling, Kelso, Milton and Invercargill, I make bold in all seriousness to look at the occurrence as a visitation from another world made by beings so far advanced in intellect and knowledge as at our present rate of progress in discovery and invention we may be at no very distant date.
[Ref. mb1:] MICHEL BOUGARD:
The ufologist indicates that on Friday, July 30, 1909, around 05:00 a.m., in the valley of the Waikaka, a few miles north of Gore, New Zealand, there was an observation, one of the witnesses, M. F. Green, stating:
"Two lights crossed the fog and then we saw a narrow object, the shape of a ship with two figures on board. The craft came very close to a dredge in the river turning around it for several minutes. Sometimes it flew very fast, sometimes very slowly, and it seemed to have fun flying like a fly, diving and going up in the sky at will. The object returned in the fog, leaving a yellowish halo, reappeared a moment towards Otakamara then disappeared."
[Ref. kb1:] KEITH BASTERFIELD:
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30 July 1909, Gore, 0500hrs: Two mail dredgehands viewed an "airship" at close range. The ship lowered through mist and circled around. Two figures were plainly visible sitting on board. It was carrying lights at both ends. Finally it shot upwards and left to the southeast. (Auckland Weekly News, Aug. 5, 1909) |
[Ref. nw1:] NIGEL WATSON:
Nigel Watson indicates that at 05:00 a.m. on July 30, 1909, two dredgehands saw an airship. From their location just north of Gore, they saw a narrow boat-shaped craft, carrying a light at both ends.
Inside the craft they could see two figures.
After circling the district for several minutes it went away in the direction of Otakarama.
The source is indicated as "The Dominion, 31 July 1909".
[Ref. bc1:] BILL CHALKER:
Bill Chalker indicates that at 5 am, on July 30, 1909, two men working on the Syndicate No. 2 dredge on a river in the Waikaka Valley, a few miles north of Gore, in New Zealand, got an excellent view of what was dubbed "the nocturnal mystery of the air".
The men saw it descend out of the mist. It had a light at both ends. Inside, two figures could be plainly observed.
The dredge winchman, Mr. F. Green, said the object rose and fell like a bird. It appeared to be a narrow boat-shaped aerial craft, that circled the dredge several times quite closely over a period of several minutes. The "airship" made "curious and seemingly impossible manoeuvres", apparently travelling at speed, then suddenly decelerating.
Eventually it disappeared into the mist, in the direction of Otakarama, leaving behind a curious yellow glare.
[Ref. bh1:] ROBERT E. BARTHOLOMEW AND GEORGE HOWARD:
The authors say that near Gore, New Zealand, on July 30, 1909, at 5 a.m., two dredge hands working the night shift claimed to see an airship descending in the fig and circling the area, with "two figures.. plainly discernible on board."
Later that day a rumor claimed a Zeppelin crashed at Waikaka, killing 2 or 3 Germans. The report followed other reports of airship and mysterious lights, and the next day a crowd gathered at the Tumka post office to debate a luminous orb which was actually a candle in a hollowed turnip some boys hang at the top of the high school flagpole.
The source for the sighting is indicated as "With a headlight attached", in Dominion, July 31, 1909, and "More Airhsip Stories", in The Auckland Star, July 30, 1909.
[Ref. go1:] GODELIEVE VAN OVERMEIRE:
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1909, July 30 |
[Ref. kb1:] KEITH BASTERFIELD:
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30 July 1909, Gore, OSOOhrs: Two mail dredgehands viewed an "airship" at close range. The ship lowered through mist and circled around. Two figures were plainly visible sitting on board. It was carrying lights at both ends. Finally it shot upwards and left to the southeast. (Auckland Weekly News, Aug. 5, 1909) |
[Ref. ar1:] ALBERT ROSALES:
Albert Rosales indicates that in Gore, New Zealand, on July 30, 1909, at 05:00 a.m., "An airship came down near a dredge working on a river some miles north of Gore. About 0500A two lights broke through the mist and then the forms of two figures sitting in the air machine could be seen. The dredge winch operator, Mr. F Green, said the ship was narrow and boat shaped. The object came quite close to the dredge, circling round for several minutes. At times it moved very fast, at other times it would poise itself and dip like a bird, then rise again. The object shot up into the mist, leaving a yellow glare on the haze; it reappeared in the direction of Otakarama, and then disappeared. Two of the dredge operators saw the object."
Albert Rosales indicates that the source is "Tony Brunt, Xenolog # 100/101".
[Ref. wu1:] "WATERUFO" WEBSITE:
Carl Feindt indicates that on July 30, 1909 at 0500 a.m., in Gore, New Zealand an airship came down near a dredge working on a river some miles north of Gore. Two lights broke through the mist and then the forms of two figures sitting in the air machine could be seen. The dredge winch operator, Mr. F. Green, said the ship was narrow and boat shaped. The object came quite close to the dredge, circling round for several minutes. At times it moved very fast, at other times it would poise itself and dip like a bird, then rise again. The object shot up into the mist, leaving a yellow glare on the haze; it reappeared in the direction of Otakarama and then disappeared. Two of the dredge operators saw the object.
He indicates that this comes from HUMCAT case 1909-4, citing Tony Brunt, Xenolog # 100/101, and thanks to Chris Aubeck for bringing it to his attention.
He lists other sources as:
Computerized Catalog (N=3173), #0008 by L. Schoenherr, no copyright date;
The Dominion dated July 31, 1909. Reference from: http://www.magonia.demon.co.uk/arc/90/seeing.htm;
Auckland WkNw (Weekly News?) dated August 5, 1909;
Xenolog by SATCU of New Zealand, #100/101, December 1975, p. 12;
Australian CUFOS Bulletin, March 1977, p. 11;
Flying Saucer Review, April 1977, p. 15;
In-depth Review of Australian UFO Related Entity Reports by Keith Basterfield, #009-04, 1980;
From Airships To Arnold: (1900-1946) by Richard Hall, p. 7, 2000;
Keith Basterfield investigation files, #009H5
HUMCAT: Catalogue of Humanoid Reports, A0075 by D. Webb, no copyright date;
Lumières dans la Nuit, #181;
*U* UFO Computer Database by Larry Hatch, # 00285, © 2002.
[Ref. jb1:] JEROME BEAU:
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On Friday 30 [May 1909] at 05:00, 2 men working in Waikaka Valley, a few miles north of the town of Gore (South of New Zealand), suddenly see one unknown flying object shaped like a boat hull rather thin with a projector at each of its ends. It loses altitude and goes to circle over the river for several minutes. What is remarkable according to witnesses, is the strangeness of its operations: the airship seems able to brake and accelerate suddenly, like a fly in the words of F. Green, one of the two witnesses. They also claim to have glimpsed the silhouettes of two people on board. |
[Ref. jb2:] JEROME BEAU:
July 1909Friday 30 - 05:00, 2 men working in Waikaka Valley, a few miles north of the town of Gore (South of New Zealand), suddenly see one unknown flying object shaped like a boat hull rather thin with a projector at each of its ends. It loses altitude and goes to circle over the river for several minutes. What is remarkable according to witnesses, is the strangeness of its operations: the airship seems able to brake and accelerate suddenly, like a fly in the words of F. Green, one of the 2 witnesses. They also claim to have glimpsed the silhouettes of 2 people on board. |
[Ref. js1:] JEAN SIDER:
Jean Sider indicates that on July 30, 1909 in New Zealand, in the valley of Waikaka, a few miles north of Gore, an airship was noticed by workers busy dredging a river.
About five o'clock in the morning, two powerful lights pierced the slight fog; which alerted the witnesses. An imposing superstructure was glimpsed and two human sitting inside a cockpit. The general appearance of the machine was that of a narrow hulled classic boat like those that can be seen in harbors, if one relies on the description bw M. F. Green, the driver of the dredge.
The object came closer to the dredge, circled above it for several minutes. The statements of the two workers on the dredge at that time are the same. At times, the air ship moved in the manner of a bird, swaying on the spot as if trying to steady itself, and then it dove to the ground to suddenly go up back in the sky. Then, the machine dove into the misty area leaving behind a trail of brightness. It reappeared briefly in a hole and disappeared definitively towards Otakarama.
The owner of the dredge confirmed the statements of his two employees, because they came to wake him up so he could also attend the show, but by the time he got dressed, it was too late.
The sources are indicated as LDLN N. 181, January 1979 page 14, and Xenolog citing The Standard, Gore, for July 31, 1909.
[Ref. ud1:] "UFODNA" WEBSITE:
The website indicates that on 30 July 1909 at 05:00 in "Gore N, New Zealand", there was a "Dredge Hands incident.".
And: "Ship lowered through mist, circled, two figures on board. Lights at both ends, maneuvered, shot upwards. Yellow glow, craft seen to the southeast. An object was observed. It departed by rapidly flying straight up until lost to sight. Occupants of the craft were seen."
And: "One yellow domed disc was observed in foggy weather by two male witnesses at a lake for a few seconds (Green). Two beings were seen."
The sources are indicated as "Basterfield, Keith, In-depth Review of Australian UFO Related Entity Reports, Australian CUFOS, Lane Cove, 1980" "Webb, David, HUMCAT: Catalogue of Humanoid Reports", "FSR, FSR (formerly Flying Saucer Review) FSR, London, 1966", "Lumieres dans la Nuit, Lumieres dans la Nuit", "SATCU, Xenolog, Timaru, ISBN:0-8092-3121-2", "ACUFOS, Australian CUFOS Bulletin", "Basterfield, Keith, Keith Basterfield investigation files", "Hall, Richard H., From Airships to Arnold: A Preliminary Catalogue of UFO Reports in the Early 20th Century (1900-1946), UFO Research Coalition, Fairfax, 2000, ISBN:1-928957-01-3", "Hatch, Larry, *U* computer database, Author, Redwood City, 2002".
[Ref. pr1:] PETER ROGERSON:
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July 30 1909 - 0500 hrs GORE (SOUTH ISLAND : NEW ZEALAND) Mr M. F. Green and another dredge hand, while on night shift, saw, through the fog, two lights. They saw that these were on either end of a boat shaped object, with a large window through which two people could be seen standing inside. The object approached the dredging machine and circled it, sometimes fast, sometimes slow, rising and falling. The object then disappeared into the fog, shooting upwards to the south east, leaving a yellow glare. It reappeared for a moment off Otakarama then disappeared. Paul Norman in FSR 22, 6 p15 |
Of course there is no evidence that any human-built airship ever flew in New Zealand in 1909, especially at night, with maneuvers such as reported, and lights on board.
However, the only report is a report given in newspapers, so the possibility of a hoax cannot be ruled out.
| Id: | Topic: | Severity: | Date noted: | Raised by: | Noted by: | Description: | Proposal: | Status: |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ufology | Severe | September 27, 2017 | Patrick Gross | Patrick Gross | No investigation. | Help needed. | Opened. |
| 2 | Ufology | Severe | September 27, 2017 | Patrick Gross | Patrick Gross | No description of the entities. | Help needed. | Opened. |
Hoax or extraterrestrial visitors.
* = Source I checked.
? = Source I am told about but could not check yet. Help appreciated.
| Main Author: | Patrick Gross |
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| Contributors: | None |
| Reviewers: | None |
| Editor: | Patrick Gross |
| Version: | Created/Changed By: | Date: | Change Description: |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | Patrick Gross | September 27, 2017 | Creation, [as1], [wt1], [tt1], [th1], [tb1], [mb1], [kb1], [nw1], [bc1], [bh1], [go1], [ar1], [wu1], [jb1], [jb2], [js1], [ud1], [pr1]. |
| 1.0 | Patrick Gross | September 27, 2017 | First published. |
