At about 5 o’clock one morning just before reaching the Panama Canal, stated the writer, passengers sleeping on deck heard someone call out "Good-bye", following upon which there was a splash.
Instantly the vessel was a scene of excitement, and while its course was altered and a life-boat lowered, a man could be seen struggling in the water.
Little hope was entertained of effecting a rescue, as already black fins were darting in the direction of the unfortunate man.
Marvellous to relate, the apparently doomed passenger was saved in the nick of time.
One or two sharks had already got at him, however, for on his reappearance on deck he was dripping with blood as well as with water.
The man was a religious maniac, and taking advantage of the crowd of passengers gathered round him, he commenced to preach a sermon.
The arrival of the ship’s doctor and an officer cut this short, and the dripping preacher was immediately placed under restraint.
Following upon this a man on board alarmed the passengers by threatening to kill his wife.
He was similarly dealt with.
On arrival at one of the Panama ports a passenger who had gone ashore struggled to the ship’s side just as the vessel was about to leave.
He was in a bad way, having been nearly hacked to pieces in a fracas at the port.
At the moment of writing the letter (the Remuera was then leaving Panama), a girl on board had taken seriously ill, and was not expected to live the journey.
• The question of the encouragement or destruction of opossums is still a live one in official quarters.
The Otago Acclimatisation Society at its meeting had before it a communication from the Department of Internal Affairs informing it that the question of the desirability of distributing opossums in various parts of New Zealand, more especially in the native bushes of both islands, had been brought prominently before the Minister.
With a view to obtaining the fullest information on the subject he asked the society to supply information, particularly on the following points:— Whether it was desirable that opossums should be liberated in other parts of the dominion, if so what localities were considered most suitable, from what parts should opossums be taken for liberation, do the skins deteriorate if the opossums are transferred from a colder to a warmer part and improve if sent from a warmer to a colder, and finally, what evidence had the society as to the destruction caused by opossums to orchards or other property.
The chairman questioned whether they were in a position to inform the Minister about the effect of taking opossums from colder to a warmer climate, but several members at once asserted that the skins would undoubtedly deteriorate.
The questions asked were referred to the Game Committee to report.
• The death occurred at Nelson, in her 98th year, of Mrs Joseph Primmer, one of the oldest residents of the district.
Mrs Primmer, who was born in England, arrived at Nelson with her husband in the ship Bolton in 1842, and had lived in the district ever since.
She was for many years an active worker for the Methodist Church.
Her husband died over 40 years ago. She had 16 children, 12 of whom are still living.
There are also upwards of 60 grandchildren, 37 great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren. — ODT, 29.8.1916.
• COPIES OF PICTURE AVAILABLE FROM ODT FRONT OFFICE, LOWER STUART ST, OR WWW.OTAGOIMAGES.CO.NZ
