A large shark, about 18ft or 19ft in length, made a dash at a cod that was being hauled in.
The shark missed the fish, and struck the boat with its snout about 6ft forward of the screw.
The planks were stove in, and the launch began to make water fast.
The blow was a heavy one, and lifted the boat well out of the water.
The engine was set going, and the boat's head turned for the harbour, which was reached with the boat half-full of water.
The boat has an inside lining, and the seat of the injury could not be reached without tearing this off.
The boat was immediately beached, and repairs effected.
Mr A Cormack, in his launch, accompanied the injured boat into the harbour, as it was in danger of sinking.
Persistent baling, however, prevented this.
The shark, after it struck the boat, lay on the surface of the water as if it had been injured by the terrific blow it had given.
The force of the impact may be judged from the fact that the shark was much heavier than the boat, and was one of the largest seen this season in the roadstead.
London: Mr A Wilson, who has had 30 years' experience of life in New Zealand, has communicated to the Inverness Branch of the National Union an account of the movement in the Dominion, and he asserts that the exercise of the franchise of women in New Zealand led to nothing in the least degree resembling a sensational development.
The franchise has not made New Zealand women more forward or self-assertive, neither has it brought impairment of modesty, refinement, womanliness or domesticity.
Dealing with women's work in politics, Mr Wilson thinks that humanitarian legislation of all kinds has been appreciably quickened and stimulated by the women's vote, and liquor legislation has also been influenced.
The best result of the reform has been its beneficial effect on the women themselves; an appeal has been made to their better intelligence, their mental horizon and the range of their sympathies have widened, and, generally speaking, their aspirations, thoughts, and interests have been raised to a higher plane.
- ODT, 19.2.1910
