THE GREAT TIGER-SAURIAN.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2239, 13 November 1886, Page 2

THE GREAT TIGER -SAURIAN.

LiriTK that is fiesh lias transpired since our list in legard to tins terrific monster. Several people declare they have seen the tracks of the bea-t. We have born shown several very carefully pi epired diagruns frou. which it would seem that the animal might he anything from a Inppop >tatmi-> to a tin key, but certainly not a ti_?<M, and still le'-s a crocodile. The joke, \vhoo\er is at the huttom of it, is being well kept up, and doubtless the inventive £cnui» of the piojeetors is capable of fuither " manifestation*. " The episode has been productive of no little amusement, not only in Hamilton, but in Auckland. Some cle\or individiul has prepared a series of pictures illustrative of tho story, which may be seen attached to tho notice-board of Gwynne'e Hocel. The first pict ure ts the conntetfeit pie*entinont ot a billy-goat, which is said to be '* the only Kantian." Xe\t cotnos an elaboiate caitoon, roiuvsenting a huge monkey depositing «>ne of the Ca.stleton boys into the jaw.sots ot an enormous cv icodile (the creature is in. ire like a hhiuk, by the way), underneath which runs the legend, "The really sou-y-un, the boy who would tell stories."' The series concludes with the likeness of a donkey, who is described ii the leUiT-niess as "A constant leader of the W.nkato District News (Hei aid's). Well stuffed." The notice boaul iadorned with other pictures relating to the same absoibnig topic, and all h.ue proved to be a great source of attraction during the last few days. The subject is further refened to in our leading columns.

A correspondent, now resident in the south, but who was in the Waikato district in the early days, has favoured the Oam am M.til with the'following:— Re the saurian monster, 01 alligator, that is supposed t > bo in the river near Hamilton, I may mention that, fifteen years ago, I .savy, at the junction of the creek (near Hamilton) with the Waikato River, the dead body of a bullock. Fastened on its head waa an immense eel. I can assure you that the eel shook the bullock as a terrier would a rat. I was riding at the time, and watched for a few minutes. To get a nearer view I moved my horse on to the bridge. The noise of the horse's hoofs on the bridge frightened the eel, and it gave aswiil and disappeared. I understand that the monster that has created such a sensation recently has been ?«een at the place where I saw this tremen dous eel— that is one mile out of Hamilton, on the Newcastle road. Not being well informed in natural history, I have no idea how long an eel will live ; but, if the one I ?a\v be still s\liv«, he must be a si/.0, and there is nothing new in an eel tra\ellm<? on the land. I Hrmly believe that the Hamilton taniwha is nothing more than an immense eel.