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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4929, 9 January 1877, Page 2

It will be remenbered that some months ago the Torres Stra't mail steamer brought news of the Great Sa Serpent having been seen in the Strait: of Salacca. ■> People thirsted for farther particulra, and Mr.- W. T. L. Travers {the constitution! question not then having occurred to himjoffered a few opinions on the

subject. But nothing definite could be learned I about the Great Sea Serpent, and the authorities quoted by Mr. ' Travers were not more satisfying than those lately cited by him as to the legality of the prorogation of Parliament at the close of last session. In this condition of affairs it is 'gratifying to know that we have details ,ef the last recorded appearance of the Great Sea' Serpent. The Melbourne Argus of a recent date says : " The master and surgeon of the s.s. Nestor, on arriving at Shanghai, made statutory declarations respecting the enormous marine creature that they assert they met with on September 11, at half-past 10 a.m., when in Malacca Strait. Captain Webster compares the creature to a gigantic pig. The greater part of its body was out of view, but from the parts that were visible, it was evident that the creature was of immense size. The head, | which' was of a pale yellowish color, was about 12ft., in length, and 6ft, of the, crown was above the water. - Neither the. eyes nor month were made out. The head was immediately connected with the body,.: .without any indication of a neck. The body; was about 45ft. or 56ft. in length, and of an oval shape,- and the tail was fully 150 ft.. in length. The master states that he distinctly saw; the tail from its junction with the body to its extremity. It seemed cylindrical, with a very . slight taper, and he estimated its diameter at 4ft The body and tail were marked with 'alternate bands and stripes, black and pale yellow in color. The stripes were distinct to the very extremity of the tail. No fins or paddles were observed ; but the monster seemed to progress by means of an undulatory motion of its tail. • It seemed to have no difficulty in keeping up with the vessel, which was going nine ;and three-quarter knots an hour. Captain Webster; at first thought of running it down, but dismissed, the' idda for fear of endangering" his screw-blades. The creature showed no signs of fear, ; and finally dropped astern. It seemed to exude an oily matter as it moved. Mr. Anderson, the ship's surgeon, stated that the creature reminded him of an enormous salamander in shape and color. Its back was higher some eight or ten feet at timeslthan the head or tail.. It was apparently of a "gelatinous or flabby substance. Its move- , ments were lethargic. He should not for a mement compare it to a snake ; the only creatures it could be compared to were of the newt or frog tribe."