A SINGULAR FIND.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2745, 25 February 1910, Page 5

A SINGULAR FIND.

LARGE NUMBER OF LIFEBELTS ON NEW BRIGHTON BEACH.

[Per Press Association.l CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 24

Neil Johansen, of Inwood’s Road, Burwood, reports having made an unusual fin'd when walking along north New Brighton beach this afternoon, in the shape of a number of ship's lifebelts. Johansen says that he is in the habit of walking along the beach almost daily, and sometimes fishes as far north as the mouth of the Waimakarin. This afternoon, about 3 o’clock, be saw a lifebelt in the sea, but did not take much notice of it. A little further on, however, he came upon two more, and by the time he reached the Waimakariri he had picked up 14. He collected them, and took them inland and stacked them oil some barrels out of reach of the sea. On his way back to New Brighton he picked up seven more, and these he placed out of the -reach of the sea. The lifebelts appeared to have been in thej'ea for some time, as some of them bad mussels attached to them. One of those taken from the sea was unopened, but the remainder were opened as if they had been used. Some were made of cotton canvas, and a few of ordinary hemp canvas. A lot of them were striped blue and white. One has on it either a number or initials, but on account of its condition from being in the sea a long time Mr. Johansen was unable to determine what the marks are, though they appear to be the letters “R.G.,” with “P" over them. Two kinds of lifebelts were picked up : one kind has arm boles and a loop to fit the shoulders, whilst the other kind has a double row of small corks in front. The canvas ones are in good order. It is evident, however, that all the lifebelts have travelled some distance. Mr. Johansen saw ot-hers in the water, -and hopes to get them to-morrow. He also hopes that the ones he got to-day will dry enough to-morrow to permit of any marks being deciphered.