The gentleman was awakened by sounds that seemed to point to burglars, but, when he realised that the noise, growing even louder and louder, issued from the region of the bedroom chimney, he was compelled to give the problem up. His attention was next attracted to the foot of the bed, where, by the aid of a match, he saw what appeared to be a huge cat, armed with fearsome-looking claws and teeth, sitting on the bed rail and glaring at him. Without hesitation, he leapt out of bed and made for the next room, and, seizing a rifle which happened to be there, cautiously returned to the bedroom. Barely had he got inside when the unwelcome intruder sprang at him, narrowly missing his shoulder. He fired, but only wounded the animal, which again hurled itself forward. Though shooting in the dark was difficult, he managed to get in two more shots, the third bullet proving fatal. In the meantime, the other inmates of the house, including two children, were in a state bordering on panic, and it was some time before general quiet could be restored. Upon examination at daylight, the animal was found to be an opossum of rather large size. Where it came from seems likely to remain a complete mystery.
A thrilling incident occurred during the height of an exceptionally severe thunderstorm in Pahiatua early on Saturday week (says the Herald). Mr and Mrs Sexton, who are engaged in milking on shares for Mr C. Avery, Pahiatua, were in the cowshed when the lightning struck the bails. Three of the cows were knocked down, one of them falling on Mrs Sexton, who, however, escaped unhurt. After the latter had been released from her awkward predicament, the bails were opened and the cows staggered out. One of Mr and Mrs Sexton's children was also knocked down by the lightning, and both it and the cows appeared in a dazed condition from the shock for some time after. The top of the chimney at the house occupied by the family, and one of the wooden posts of the tank stand were crashed by the lightning.
The weasel is showing his refined tastes in Cobden (says the correspondent of the Greymouth Star). First he devastated an aviary, and has steadily progressed, till last week he visited the fowlhouse of a resident and destroyed 17 chickens.
- ODT, 17.11.1915.
