APE-MEN OF VICTORIA

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 856, 27 December 1929, Page 11

APE-MEN OF VICTORIA

LIVED IN MURRAY VALLEY ONLY VANISHED RECENTLY The question whether ape-men inhabited the Murray Valley, in Victoria, was discussed by Professor Osborne, of Melbourne, who is at present in London (says a special correspondent of the Melbourne “Herald”). After mentioning the extraordinarily primitive Cohuna skull, discovered by Sir Colin Mackenzie, Professor Osborne pointed out that Hr. Brown, of Swan Hill, had found a number of similar skulls in that region. Professor Osborne sent these td Sir C. Mackenzie at Canberra. These indicated that the Cohuna man was not a freak, but a member of a Neanderthal like race, occupying part of the Murray Valley, said Professor Osborne. The development of the skull, he said, indicated that these ape-men might have lacked articulate speech. Possibly they finally disappeared only a few hundred years ago. Perhaps, he added, they were exterminated by the aborigines. It would be of the greatest interest to comb out the Murray Valley to see how far this primitive people extended. While in Ulster, Professor Osborne examined and measured hut-dwellings that were obviously made by a pigmy race, probably not over four feet high. Possibly the existence of such a race in prehistoric times accounted for the Irish legends about fairies, said Professor Osborne.

"lt is of the utmost importance to investigate fully the Murray Valley discoveries,” Dr. Elliot Smith, professor of anatomy at the London University (who is an Australian) told the “Herald's” special representative. "I hope something will be done soon, and incidentally wish the details were made available of the Cohuna man. All I know of it is a photograph, which was the only information published.”

A.R.C. SECOND DAY ACCEPTORS FOR MONDAY EXCELLENT FIELDS ENGAGED The second day’s racing at Ellerslie eventuates on Monday next. Acceptances closed at midday today, and judging - from the fine response made by owners another thrilling day’s sport is in prospect. There is a select field engaged in the Xing's Plate, run at weight-for-age, while the principal handicap event, the Summer Ouji, lias attracted num-

erous acceptors. All the other events are of a high standard.

A complete review of the prospects for Monday’s racing will be given in tomorrow’s issue. The acceptances are as follow:

FERGUSON HANDICAP Of £ 400 1 mile. Richfield . . 9 0 Tuku .... Imperial Relation . . . 0 Prince . . . 8 0 7 0 7 8 Antique . . . 7 0 Llyn Dim . . 7 H Snowplane 7 0 Greenaway . Always . . . 0 Spring: Abbey Some Lady . 7 0 Indolent . . . 7 4 KING’S PLATE Of £300; 1 mile ; weight-for-age Historic . . 9 2 Hunting Cry 8 o Toxeuma . . Eaglet . . . 7 11 ponsoney HURDLES HANDICAP a: 500, 2 miles. Pangolin . . 10 11 0 Prince Lu . . 10 9 King's Guard 10 7 La dy Kawini . Clockwork . . 10 0 Spalpeen Rahepoto . . 9 9 3 Glenotus . . 9 0 SUMMER CUP Of £1,000 Star Strang-er . . 9 11 Pegaway . . . Vertigrern . . 8 8 Seatown . . . 8 7 White Fang . Panther . . . Merry Mint . 8 5 7 10 Flying Juliet 7 0 1 lie Hawk . 7 S Mitlira .... 7 0 CRITERION HANDICAP £500; 5 furlongs Biddy's Boy 8 7 Betterment . 7 Awaken . . . Camp Tremetus . . s 3 Sight Draft . 8 3 Hard Words Oil King: . . 8 0 Open Cheque 7 10 Drastic . . . Nimble . . . 7 9 Auctioneer . . Tenterden 7 5 WAITEMAT. A HANDICAP Of £400; li miles Duellona . . . 9 0 Prince of Orange . 7 5 Sea Song . . . 7 0 Pedestal . . . 7 Nassoc-k . . . 7 0 Day Lass . . Antique .... 7 0 Nassau Lady 7 0 Alloy .... 7 0 ELECTRIC HANDICAP Of 2J600; G furlongs Cimabue . . 9 3 The Raider . 8 7 Great Star . 8 1 Lady Quex . 8 0 Lady’s Boy 8 0 Takulaina \ a 11a r . . . 7 « Tea Time .. . Knightlike . 7 0 PLUNK ET HANDICAP Of £500 1 mile. Pan f lier . . 9 4 7 12 Goshawk . . 9 0 Maori Boy . X 10 Eager Rose . S 6 Marble King 8 2 Hyde Park . 8 2 King Midas . 8 2 Richfield . 8 2 7 12 Gemlight . . 7 12 Glen Star . . 7 7