WANDERING DEER.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 9167, Issue 9167, 16 March 1910, Page 5

WANDERING DEER.

A CHILD'S EXPERIENCE. Two young deer, devoid of the timidity which characterises their species, have recently been depasturing on the Masterton road and properties adjacent, about a mile from Eketahuna, says the Eketahuna Express. On Saturday afternoon they were encountered by Mrs Albrechtsen, •of Marigarongo, who was driving into Eketahuna, feeding complacently on the road, near the cemetery. Mrs Albrechtsen states that, the horse became scared on being confronted with such strange animals, and reared suddenly, almost overturning the vehicle. For safety she took her two-year-old daughter from the buggy and placed her alongside a fence while she endeavoured to persuade the horse to pass. Terror overcame the animal, and it bolted with Mrs Albrechtsen past the deer, and in the direction of Eketahuna. At this juncture the deer evidently became inquisitive, and turned their attention to the unprotected child. Having checked the horse, Mrs Albrechtsen returned for the infant. Imagine her surprise and horror, however, when she detected her daughter being carried across the road on the antlers of one of the animals. By some providential chance the child freed itself from its perilous position and- fell to the ground. ■ Mrs Albrechtsen was immediately on the spot and found, much to her relief, that the child had sustained not the slightest injury. While the mother was attending to her daughter the horse again bolted, and was captured by the occupants of a. motor-car at Mr Bassett's residence at Mangaoronga. In the meantime some men in horseback came to the assistance of Mrs Albrechtsen, and succeeded in scaring the deer, which scampered off, one of them still carrying the brim of the child's hat on its antlers.

On reaching Ekctahuna, Mrs Albrechtscn immediately drove to the County Council office and asked that some steps be taken to rid the vicinity of the deer. The Council happened to be sitting at the time, and it was resolved to immediately write the secretary of the Acclimatisation Society drawing his attention to the fact that the deer are wandering on county roads, and pointing out that if the animals were not removed the Council would have them shot. These deer which wort liberated by the Acclimatisation Society came out from the bush, and have been made pels of bi' children in the locality.