A VISITOR FROM SPIRIT LAND

Dunstan Times, Issue 708, 12 November 1875, Page 3

A VISITOR FROM SPIRIT LAND

A most extraordinary story has been related by several gentleman wlvcb has caused no little amount of discussion. Tho story runs thus :—Some short time ago the relates left this place in a whale-boat for an old kaingi called Waitahanm, a few miles along the margin of tbe lake, that after landing and remaining for some time, thev determined to stay for tho night, and finallv took up their quarters in an old Maori whare. In the evening they made a fire in the house and retired to rest. Their slumbers were not, so soft ns could be desired, however, fur in a short time sounds, “ strange and unnatural,” saluted the ears of the wouldbe sleepers, and very soon after a strange figure made its appearance in tbe whare, and took up a position beside tbe fire. The occupants of t’m bouse, it can bo easily imagined, did not care particularly for a being in such “ a questionable shape," and some of them gazed in fear and trembling and soon left the house ; tho rest remained with their heads under the '•lankets. One gentleman courageously seized a frying-pan and shied it at the object, which immediately fled from their gnze, but not like a “ beautiful dream.” The spectre is described as being in the shape of a man, of a light color, large grev beard, with eyes like balls of fire, and seemed as if it had just emerged from the water, as its head was covered with water-cross hanging down to its shoulders, about three feet in height, and a perfect skeleton, and as it walked or hobbled they could hear its bones rattle like dice in a box. The story is well authenticated by all who were present (European), and there is no doubt that same extraordinary object whs seen by them, but whether a spirit from Heaven or a “ goblin damned” remains at present a profound mystery.