People saw in the occurrence a possible solution of many mysterious outbreaks of fire. More than one farmer told of fires being caused among dry grass by bottles or bits of glass focusing the sun's rays, and one or two incipient fires have been traced to the same cause.
A second case occurred in Christchurch on Sunday which shows plainly (says the Lyttelton Times) that the likelihood of fires starting in this manner is not so remote as some people imagine. The day was a delightfully clear one, and the sun shone with great brilliance.
About 2.15 p.m. Dr Thacker was summoned to see a patient, and on going outside noticed a peculiar smell of burning.
He thought that his chauffeur must have been putting a new asbestos packing round the exhaust pipe of the car, and remarked upon it, but the driver said that the packing had not been renewed.
A few minutes later a guest of Mrs Thacker on going upstairs, noticed a strong smell of burning, and hastening to her room found the cause.
She had noticed the paragraph in the newspaper telling of the incipient fire at the Telegraph Office, and so had moved a small bottle standing on her dressing table to one side.
The afternoon sun had caught it and the rays had evidently been focused on some articles placed on the table.
Two hair ornaments made of some composition, had been reduced to ashes, and all that remained of a polished vulcanite pin box, about four inches long by two wide, was a silver plate ''Pins'' which had been on the lid, and the hinge.
he cover on the table was burned through, and the table itself badly scorched. An envelope an inch or two away was also badly scorched, and other articles were more or less damaged. The heat generated must have been great, as the hairpins very clearly indicated.
A telegram received in Dunedin from Christchurch yesterday afternoon announced the gratifying news that New Zealand had earned the honour of a world's record in motorcycling.
This is in connection with the recent trial of a 7 h.p. Indian cycle and side-car, ridden on the main roads between Dunedin and Christchurch, Christchurch to Akaroa, and Christchurch to Hanmer respectively, in all, a distance of 1600 miles, which Mr J. Hinds, of Christchurch, completed in about half an hour under 80 hours, without once stopping the engine of his machine.
A number of passengers on the Otago Central Railway had a somewhat unfortunate experience at Ranfurly yesterday.
The train for Dunedin had completed the usual 20-minutes' stop, and the whistle announced the resumption of the journey, when there was a rush from the tea-rooms to get on board.
A well-known city chemist showed an unexpected turn of speed, and managed to overtake the train, which steamed away leaving 14 disappointed would-be passengers, who comprised two lady teachers, 10 male teachers, and two prominent business men.
The party was in despair, and the next move was to the local motor garage, where, of two cars, one was absent and the other was under repair.
However, relief came in the direction of special permission to travel by the goods train, which conveyed the party safely to Dunedin at 8.30 p.m. three hours late. - ODT, 7.4.1915.
