The result of the race showed that Arnst had not lost his old form, for he was not really extended over any part of the race. Starting off at 24 strokes to the minute, the champion quickly took
the lead, being a length ahead at the first quarter-mile peg. Hannan started at 26, dropping to 24. At the half-mile Arnst added another half-length to the gap, and with three-quarters of a mile gone the champion was two lengths to the good, and was taking things easy.
With two miles gone, Arnst was three lengths to the good and taking things easy. Hannan quickened his stroke to 28, Arnst still rowing 24. Crossing the river to the western side, Arnst livened up to 25, Hannan doing 26, but with still three lengths’ gap. Half a mile from home both settled down to business, Arnst now doing 28 and Hannan 26. The challenger reduced the gap slightly, and Hannan touched the bank, and momentarily stopped. With the winning post in sight, Hannan made a great effort, but Arnst, rowing steadily, kept his three lengths’ lead till gunfire. Time, 22min 33sec.
New goldfield named for dog
The newly-discovered goldfield on the Alexander river in the Inangahua district continues to excite great interest on the West Coast, and Reefton people are using every endeavour to secure immediate road access and the early opening up of the reefs. The new reef is called the “Bull”, and it is interesting to note that it is called after a cattle dog named Bull, owned by the prospectors, one of whom, Mr McVicar, was hunting cattle one day at the foot of the ridge where the reef was discovered, and Bull had a few animals bailed up against the bank. When his owner went in after the dog, he picked up a quartz specimen containing gold, and it was from this beginning that the reef was eventually traced to its position on the ridge. The creek where the specimen was picked up is now called Bull Creek, and the new discovery the Bull reef.
Record parachute descent
Lieutenant A.G. Hamilton, in an interview in the St Louis Star, talks about his record parachute descent of 24,000 ft near Rantoul, Illinois, recently. The upward climb of the aeroplane from which he dropped took 86 minutes, the parachute drop about 20. His pilot patted him on the back and shouted, “I’ll send you lilies”. Then the lieutenant put his feet over the side and dropped. “I had a few anxious seconds until the harness tightened round my shoulders,” he said, “and I knew the parachute had opened. Then I just lit a cigarette and drifted.’’
Dunedin centenarian dies
Mrs Margaret Murphy, who died at an early hour on Saturday morning at Wesley Street, South Dunedin, is said to have reached the ripe age of 106 years. The deceased, relict of J.F. Murphy, was born in County Clare, Ireland. She voted at the general election of 1919, being wheeled to the South Dunedin Town Hall. She was blind and feeble at the time, and gave her age as 105 on October 28 of that year.
- ODT, 13.6.1921.
