About three years ago a lady from Auckland visited Fortrose, and expressed a wish to see the graves of the victims of the illfated Tararua, which was wrecked in April, 1881.
Mr James Templeton, who is now a baker at Waimahaka, accompanied the lady to the lonely spot, which is some 12 miles distant.
After carefully inspecting the numerous mounds that were overgrown with long, dank grass, the lady was manifestly affected through being unable to locate the grave of a passenger man, whose body was picked up on the beach, his principal identification being the name which was stamped on the neckband of his shirt.
Mr Templeton made inquiries after the lady's departure, and through the police records at Invercargill, and the assistance of an old identity, the exact site where the man was buried was located.
The lady was communicated with, and she instructed that a headstone bearing both the man's name and her own be erected over the spot where lies the disintegrated remains of the lover she lost in those far-off days.
• Sir, - In justice to the present owner of Bushey Park, I would like to correct a statement which recently appeared in your own paper, and has since been copied into other papers, in connection with the recent sale of this property. It is stated that the property was once offered to the Government at £5 per acre. This is absolutely incorrect. About five years ago I was asked to submit Bushey Park (including what is now Hapua) to the Government for closer settlement. That I did at £20 per acre. A very prominent member, and still prominent, of the Government stated that Bushey Park was not suitable for closer settlement, but he was too cute to give his reasons for creating such an erroneous and palpably wrong impression, and there this matter ended. But my successor, Mr Melhuish, knows good land when he sees it. - I am, etc. Rodk. McKenzie (late owner).
• Word was received by telephone late last night from Kereru Station which is due west inland of Hastings, that a loud and mysterious rumbling in the earth was being continuously heard.
The stock in the neighbourhood were terrified and uttering cries and moans.
The rumbling commenced about 1a.m., yesterday, the noises lasting about three minutes with intervening periods of quietness lasting about 10 minutes.
The opinion was expressed that Ngauruhoe was in eruption, with the accompanying earthquakes and earth noises. - ODT, 27.6.1916
• COPIES OF PICTURE AVAILABLE FROM ODT FRONT OFFICE, LOWER STUART ST, OR WWW.OTAGOIMAGES.CO.NZ
