The Sanders Memorial Challenge Cup is dedicated to the memory of New Zealand’s gallant hero — the late Lieutenant Commander W. E. Sanders VC DSO RNR. The first series of races for this valuable trophy will be held during the Easter week on the Waitemata Harbour. Auckland will be represented by Iron Duke and Otago by Heather.
Duck’s remarkable fecundity
A world’s record breaker always attracts attention, and the poultry fanciers of Auckland reckon they have discovered one in the shape of a duck competing at the egg laying competition now nearly finished at Mount Albert (says the Star). This extraordinary duck has already laid 308 eggs up to last Tuesday, and looks like laying for the remainder of the test, of which there are still four weeks and three days to go to complete the 50 weeks’ test. The world’s record is 330 eggs for 52 weeks, so that it is quite likely Mount Albert this year will beat the record. Last year the winning duck laid 315 eggs, and although this was not a world’s record, it attracted attention from all parts of the world, especially as it included a remarkable performance — 224 eggs in 224 days. The competition is exceptionally close this year in both fowls and ducks, and it is quite impossible to guess who will be at the top when March 31 arrives. The fanciers are getting quite excited over the close finish.
Grisly end avoided
A marvellous escape from shocking death was the experience of a man named Hutton at Hastings a day or two ago. While walking over the railway crossing in Lyndon Road, quite oblivious of the fact that a goods train was only a few yards away, he was struck by the engine, in front of which he apparently fell. After travelling about 50 yards the train was pulled up, and much to the surprise of the driver, he was standing up uninjured, except for a few bruises, having been carried along on the cowcatcher. — ODT, 9.3.1921.
