NEWS AND NOTES

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 955, 16 February 1911, Page 4

NEWS AND NOTES

The voyage of Crippen and Le Neve on the Magnetic is proving unfortunate tor the owners of the vessel, the White Star Company. It has been found impossible to persuade any passengers to occupy the staterooms used by the fugitives, and the company has now been compelled to turn them into storerooms.

One witness declared iu a case at Christchurch recently that a motor car ran over one dog. A second witness declared that the car ran over two dogs, and a third swore that it ran over three. Yet these seemingly inconsistent statements were all true, for the motorist admitted that there were six dogs on the road, and that he had run over them all.

Messrs R. H. and H. G. Milburn, of Hastings, have (says the Tribune) purchased over 2000 acres of Kawau Island, the home of the late Sir George Grey, which consists of about 5000 acres, and is situated 28 miles north of Auckland. Messrs Milburn Bros, intend farming the island. The portion acquired includes about 16 miles of coast line, containing some of the finest oyster beds in the district.

A local angler had a very narrow escape from death the other day [ says the Siratford Post). He and a friend went fishing iu the Patea River, and the angler iu question was sitting on a rock iu the river bed watching his friend fish, until he went off to get some of his paraphernalia, which had been left some distance hack. He had just left his position when an enormous tree trunk crashed down at the very point where he had been sitting.

It will come as a great surprise to many who know that a biplane has been seen at Havelock, and what is more, has been actually photographed by Dr Williams. The photograph was shown to a Marlborough Express reporter, and there is no doubt that the machine existed and was seen. There was a suggestion that the photo was a “ fake,” but on close scrutiny it becomes apparent that it is quite genuine. The owner or inventor of the biplane is not known, and its appearance is just now a mystery.

It was forty-five years ago on the xyth ult. since General Chute commenced his famous march from the Waihi redoubt (near Hawera) to New Plymouth, the time occupied being eight days. The express trains now cover the distance, the route being almost the same as General Chute’s celebrated march iu two hours and a quarter. What a wonderful transformation all that part of the North Island has undergone during the interval. Then all dense unpenetrable forest now prosperous farms and smiling homesteads.

The danger of venturing too far out while surf bathing was exemplified in a striking manner at Ocean Beach on Saturday afternoon, says a Dunedin wire. Walter Tyson, about 33 years of age, was apparently engaged “shooting” breakers, when he was overcome by a strong backwash. The life-line was some little distance away, and when it was procured ft was found to be tangled, involving loss of time. Fortunately a young man named Crolton Umbers was close by, and he rushed into the water and rescued Tyson. The latter was unconscious when brought ashore, and remained so for a considerable time, but he is now progressing favourably.