WAIKATO DISTRICT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7758, 2 October 1886, Page 5

WAIKATO DISTRICT NEWS.

[prom our OWN correspondents.] Hamilton, Friday. Mr. Dbluar, who was burnt oat a week Or two ago, .has let his farm on lease to a gentle* man from Canterbury, at a rental of £30 a year for the 150 aorea, a portion only of which ia in cultivation-—the tenant to «reot a new dwelling and homestead. Yesterday your correspondent, in company with the editor of the local journal and several gentlemen, visited Mr. Caatleton's farm, beyond Frankton, and were shown the spot where the saurian monster was Been by his sons. On arrival at the farm we found the boys at home, their father being away at the creek with his gun In search of another sight of the reptile. The boys are intelligent lads, and gave a detailed account of the appearance of the creature, which folly bears out all that has been stated, and quite soouted the idea that they could possibly have been deceived in the matter. The size of the beast was. accurately described by the elder of the boys— a bright, intelligent ladas being about four and ik-half feet altogether, the tall portion being; some six or eight inches across where it leaves the rump and hind legs, and tapering off far about eighteen inches, the body much thicker, about two feet long, and the head nearly half the length of the body, and all covered with brownish • coloured scales. Its movements when walking could best bo described as creeping, and even when running more of a gentle waddle than anything else. ; The boy had seen a lizard more than a foot long on another part of the farm about a year ago; and, except for size, could compare the creature to nothing hotter than this, except that in the case of the reptile last seen the tail was less tapering than that of the lizard. The spot where the brute was seen is a wild out-of>the«world spot. A discoloured creek of swamp water runs through a small valley of irregular width, which is enclosed by banks more or less steep of from 30 to 50 feet in height. There is a thick growth of flax bushes and other rank vegetation along the creek, which is very devious in its course, and in many places deeper than bottom could be found with a long flax stick. The place was shown us where the monster was seen the second time, swimming with its head out of water, when,at sight of the boy on the bank above,it dived, and did not again reappear. That the beast is not carnivorous would almost appear from the fact that the remains of a dead oow were lying untouched * little way up the oreek. Whatever the oreature may be will doubtless soon be set at rest, as others than Mr. Casleton himself are on the look out to capture or kill it, believing that its capture would be a matter of no small profit as an exhibit.

[BY TELEGRAPH.-—OWN CORRESPONDENTS.] ' ' Hamilton, Friday evening. At a meeting of the Eirlkiriroa Highway Board —present, the Chairman (Mr. Primrose), and Messrs. Steele, Lovell, and Thomas—a letter was received from Mr. Gelling complaining of the deep hole near the water-table at the corner or taker* street, Claudelands. The matter was attended to. A petition from Taupiri settlers was received asking that a bridle track should be made from Rice's farm to Walshe's farm, as . for want of a road oommnnioation with Taupiri for a number of ' settlers was only by water. The Chairman . proposed that Mr. Lovell, the engineer, and hiniself should go round the district and meet the settlers, and ascertain what works were most ne • cessary to be done in the coming summer. This was agreed to. It was resolved, on the application of * number of settlers on the Cambridge road, who ■ are annoyed by cattle being allowed to graze upon the publio road, to put in force the provisions of the Pnblio Works Amendment Aot, 1884, Publio Works Act, 1882, which render persons allowing cattle to be at large on the publio roads, or even to be herded there, liable to a penalty of £5 for each offence. The new Waikato Dairy Company had only two* applications for the secretaryship, those of Messrs Parr and H. Biggs. That of the former was accepted, and the office will bo held in Mr. Parr's ntore. ,

Ngahoawahia, Friday evening. Reuben Cleary, formerly a Hamilton boot* maker, was brought .op on Wednesday before Mr. E. R. Rathbone, J.P., charged with being drunk, bia sixth offence, and with using indecent He was sentenced to six weeks' imprisonment, fie was looked up in the Ngaruawahia gaol on Wednesday night'at three a.m. Yesterday Constable Berryman, who sleeps in a room in the , • barracks, close , by, was awakened by a smell of burning wood, and getting up found that Cleary had used his clothes, even to the tails of his shirt, in the endeavour to set fire to his cell. The door was burning merrily when the constable discovered the fire. He was coolly lying down as if in no way concerned. The fire, of course, was got under. Cleary was again brought up yesterday and sentenced to an additions! 14 days' imprisonment. ■