FIRE BALOONS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2577, 11 August 1909, Page 5

FIRE BALOONS.

WIDESPREAD PRACTICAL JOKING.

United Press Association —Copyrigiit SYDNEY, August 10.

A mysterious light was seen over the highlands at Mossvale. It was at an elevation of 2000 feet, and it is supposed to he a balloon or airship. The lights were also seen by passengers on the Melbourne express. (Received August 10, 9 p.m.) SYDNEY"* August 10.

Goulburn report# that a mysterious and very brilliant light was seen above the ranges for several nights in succession. It circled at a considerable height back to the starting point.

[Per Press -Association... WAIHI, Aug. 10. Last night, between 7 and 9 o’clock, all the residents out of doors saw mysterious lights hovering in close vicinity to the township. At first two lights were visible, but later four were distinctly seen. They were all traveling together. Their progress was slow, the light taking twenty minutes to travel about four miles. The incident is the talk of the town. PALMERSTON N., August 10. Great excitement had been caused at Stoney Creek and other localities near here by the appearance of an airship, which 'travelled westward over the ranges at a rate of 25 miles an hour. A schoolmaster and numerous residents all give circumstantial accounts of the marvellous phenomena, which, turns out to-night to have been a fire balloon which had been sent U" by two settlers, who are busy collecting accounts of the wonderful things others saw it do.

A telephone message was received at the “Times” office at- about 9 o’clock last night, stating that a mysterious light had been seen floating in the sky near Young Nick’s Head. A “Times” reporter at once went down to the groyne to investigate, and saw a large red light floating in the Sky, and travelling out to sea. As the night was dark the light was distinct, and it was impossible to tell how far it was from land. The light was evidently attached to a liot-air balloon, as it" gradually descended.