A GIGANTIC LIZARD

Hokitika Guardian, 25 August 1931, Page 8

A GIGANTIC LIZARD

THE AUSTRALIAN “PRENTY.” SCIENTISTS INTERESTED. OPAL PROSPECTOR’S STORY SYDNEY, Augustl4. Australian scientific circles are showing keen interest in the reports by Central Australian prospectors now in Sydney, of the presence of a fierce gigantic lizard, known a s the “prenty” in the wide spaces of the interior. Its occurrence is vouched for in the quarter by Mr Fred Blakely leader of the Central Australian Gold Exploration Expedition, and a brother of the. Federal Minister, who declares tha this remarkable creature, which grows up to loft in length, has been seen by white men. 'The country in which it is found, he says, is about 200 by 8500 rnile s in extent, and is shunned by the natives as “Kaditeha,” or land cf evil things. When Mr Blakely was gouging f opals in the Stuart Range, a we 1 !- known prospector—“ Big Jim”— who has been in that section of country for years related his own- alarming experienvee w’ith this fearsome reptile. The old fossicker was walking along with head bent, scanning th(\ ground for sign* of.opals, when he heard a strange sound and looked up to see one of these huge lizards charging him. It lashed its tail, undulated its body, and made at him with remarkable speed. “Big Jim” threw the nearest stones at it, and then ft rued and ran for his life.

Next day Mr Blakeley found the tracks of the creature, and measured the distance from one outside claw to the other a s 6ft Sin, and estimated its length as loft. Mr Blakeley also found the imprint of the “prenty” in sandstone at a depth of oft together with opalised fos« ; ls o* wood, fish and shells. It is deduced that the “prenty” is a desert survival of an ancient form of hfe. Another prominent Central Australian, Mr Robert Buck, who recent!' found the body of Robert Lassot 4 the lone prospector who perished ’’ Central Australia, also vouches for the fact that the “prenty” is no figment - the imagination. He encoune’ed the lie says, and found them fearsome and fearless creatures. Incidentally, Buck lias just left in an attempt to find the rich gold reefs in Central Australia, the search for which meant the death of Lassetter. Buck i s the owner of Tempo Downs and Mait land Ponds stations, but is a firm believer in the presence of rich gold, in the interior, stories of which have been retailed bv the blacks on his station