THE AIRSHIP MYSTERY.

Mataura Ensign, 2 August 1909, Page 3

THE AIRSHIP MYSTERY.

PRACTICAL JOKING, FIRE BALLOONS ADRIFT. The "airship" has again been floating round promiscuously and was visible on •several occasions on Saturday and Sunday. About half-past, six on Saturday night a moving lignt in the direction of the Hokonuis was observed by an individual who at once became wildly excited and notified all and .sundry that the visitor was "on tho move again." A number of people carefully observed the light, which moved slowly in a north-easterly direction out, of sight. This light in all probability was that of an ordinary lire balloon sent up by ■someone bent on taking a rist> out of those whose attention was directed to it.

A resident who lives near the dairy factory observed a sir.'light about the same time, which lie says was beating up against the wind (disproving the fire balloon theory) and made a halfcircle before it finally disappeared. A number of poople, we are informed, are manufacturing fire balloons with a view to enjoying thenmelves at tho expense of those who discover "airships" at night, MOVING LIGHT AT NELSON. PEII UNITED rjiESB ASSOCIATION. NELSON, Aug. 2. A private resident reports seeing a mysterious light in the sky on Saturday week, which appeared first from the direction of D'Lrvillo Island, crossing tho bay towards Farewell Spit and then disappearing. It was seen for fully twenty minutes, tho light being the size of a bucket, and kept rising and falling.

STKANGE SIGHT AT lifi VDO-VE. A mysterious light in tlio sky was ob. served from Brydone and Edendale on S;i uit-d.-iy evening (writes our Brvdone • -oiwspondoiit). About (3.15 p.m. a'smnJl luminous body of acetylene pis color w--jih observed moving from the truo west in iin easterly direction at rangles I-ho main railway line. When it liad travelled a. considerable distance the small light chungt-d in color to Hint resembling a head-light on a railway engine and. expanding in size, apparently uirning and moving directly westwards, llic smaller light, as seen at first whs •'.'gain visible while tlie larger light was lost to view. I'or a time it remained stationary, Imf again turned and mnde duo east somewhat higher in the heavens than on its fi rat. course and continuing further on. Once more the yellow light Inirst out, circled, and moved westward, I lie small light again showing clearly. Ft was closely observed aud gradually disappeared from view with an undulating motion. 'lbis phenomenon was also observed irom hdendale, some persons watching n, lor nearly half itn hour, sufficient time being given to call the attention of others to the light. Mr Wragge may be right in attributing this light to cosmic luminous dust of meteoric or cometary origin, but its motions in all directions—advancing, retiring, and the up-and-down waveliko tonus—require further explanation.

" Au.i-sniriTis." TO TITK EDITOR. Sir,—--Do you not think if tune that the local medicos held a consultation to come to some definite treatment, for the new disease, "Air-sliipitis"? At present I understand they all have different treatment, with a result to be gauged by the air-ship columns of vour valuable paper. WATCHDOG. THE MYSTERY SOLVED. Al last this much talked about mystery of the airship has been solved. i he moving light which lias been seen so much ol late is really not an airship, nut a messenger from Mars, riding Irom planet to planet, on a Woods' .Special Express Cycle, with one of their powerful gas lamps in front. 'ibis wonderful machine, is obtainabV hom Hoods' Cycle Depot, Gore, tor the small sum of £" 10s. Why not pun base one and be able to fly from place to place the same as this moving liglit has been doing.—Advt.