WELLINGTON NOTES

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 714, 9 January 1903, Page 2

WELLINGTON NOTES

SPECIAL MESSAGES,,

WELLINGTON, Monday LAND SE’l TLEAIENT,

At, the prsent time the Lands Department nave one nunurcu thousand acres le-auy ior close settlement in tne Norm tsiatiu. i am mionued, on very liign authority, that at tne present rate oi progress tne whole of me surveyed Grown lands in the colony will have nccii surveyed in auout two years lienee. j CHASED BY A SHARK-,

Lyell Bay is a favorite resort for natners, who deariy Jove a dip in the in my during the holiuay seasons. One ot idem, However, got such a scare tlie otner morning as will likely deter him irom naming in this quarter for ail time to come. While padulmg (about in the water at a lonely nook ne spotted the tins of a. large shark, winen bore down on him at a rapid rate. '4 he bather struck at a-rapid speed for the shore, ctosety followed by his sharkslnp, who did not give up tne chase until nearing shallow water. Other big sbarks have since been seen in the bay. CLAIM FOR DAMAGES. ,* Mr Alex. Middleton, a well-known theatrical manager on the other side, writes to a friend here that, after making all arrangements to open in Fertti Theatre at Christmas, ne-was,, he alleges, disappointed, by the Perth manager breaking his contract. As this meant monetary loss to Mf Middleton, he has issued a writ claiming &IUOO damages. VITICULTURE IN WAIRARAPA,

The cultivation of grapes is making good headway in the Wairarapa, and largo areas are being prepared lor this important industry. CURIOUS OCCURRENCE. A Wellington resident during a holiday trip up country noted tlie curious circumstance of one river in heavy flood and another a. short distance away almost waterless. This wax the case in several instances during- * the past week. In October the .plain around Masterton and right dowyi to the East Coast experienced a severe drought, while north of Masterton, in tho Mauriceville and Ekctahur.a Counties, where there is a great yea 1 of hilly country, there was an -awiingly heavy rainfall, the eounity-' at times being flooded. AN EXTINCT TANIWHA.

A jawbone, apparently of an extinct reptile, has recently been discovered on the banks of the Rangitikei river, west of Ruahine ranges. The specimen, which is of considerable size, has been sent to Christchurch for expert classification. Considerable Interest is being taken in the matter, as old Maoris in the district have circumstantial stories of an • animal called by them the taniwha. THE LATE SIR FREDERICKSARGOOD.

The journey from Taihape to the nearest railway station, Mangaweka, bringing the body of the late Sir Frederick Sargood to Wellington, was. performed under considerable difficulty, owing to the bad condition of the road. The mourners during the night, arriving at Mangaweka at nearly 2 o’clock on Saturday morning.

• TOURING THE WORLD. Mr James Pinnock, an African, explorer ot considerable celebrity, arrived here on Saturday. He has recently travelled through Siberia. i-M the warmer and less civilised portion of Asia, also through North America, Mexico, Yucatan, and through scenes of the recent calamitous eruptions in Martinique. He is now making a tour of New Zealand, and will shortly be aWM? to Australia. Tr.tnce he will flit past the pealt oi Thursday Island to Borneo, and will possibly then visit Mandalay. Mr Pinnock is accompanied on hit travels by Miss Annie Bates, a' lady of means, who has a taste for travelling' in strange lands. Miss Bates has already travelled several thousands of miles in Mr Pinnock’s company, and t intends to explore with him the countries oi the Malay Archipelago, and other far-ofi lauds*