A Good Performance.

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 201, 24 March 1905, Page 2

A Good Performance.

At 8.15 punctually on Bunday afternoon Mr E. D’Arcy Hamilton dived from the Kawhia wharf clad in swimming dress, bent upon making a bold effort to swim the miles of brine and water frosh lying between there and Oparau, a dist&we of about eight nautical miles—not as the bee flies but as the channels deviate. In a small boat, full of wonderment (and a fair slice of Job’s special virtue) sat. Mr E. A. Dance, watchful of any danger from large, hungry, finny denizens anxious for a fat sweet meal of “ long pig," or for any signs of the long distance swimmer’s arch enemy, cramp. “ Fortune favours the brave," and upon this occasion such proved true, for the swnnnier arrived at the' Ferry at 20 minutes tn 7 p.m., havipg., been three hours and twenty minutes'in his “ altogether,’’ his satejite having lost his campass (mentally)' stranded his craft containing the wardrobe upon a mud bank. Imagination will supply tbe difficulty of tbe situation to the perusers of the Skttleb, whan sounds of a launch, fully loaded, with lady passengers, sighted the lohejy swimmer, whose natural desire was to return to his starting point, viz., Kawhia, anid break all previous records of insurance in swimming. “ All's well that ends well ” and all things in this contest of nature v. element ended weU—the boatman rejoicing in a (a)well stiff neck, the performer a healthy appetite and bofti with knowledge' that human and frail are we all, and ufitil attempted none know what can be attained. Kia Ora to the plucky plunger and may D’Arcy continue in bis efforts, in the sweet hops of wifesting the coveted prize of crossing the English Channel, so far successfully attempted only by Captain Matt. Webb. Now don’t 11 Cavill.”