NORFOLK ISLAND NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20779, 23 January 1931, Page 16

NORFOLK ISLAND NEWS.

PAINFUL FISHING ACCID^T

[FROM OCR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] NORFOLK ISLAND. .Tan. 10. While fishing in his launch, about four miles off shore, Mr. Richard Douran, k returned soldier and taxi proprietor, hooked ;i big shark, which he hauled alongside his boat and ripped with a large knife. As he made a second stab the point of the knife struck a bone in the fish. His hand slipped down the keen blade, which gashed his palm severely and almost amputated the third and fourth fingers. His mute partially checked the profuse bleeding and all speed' was made for the Kingston landing. At the hospital, under an anaesthetic, the severed tendons were united. Mr. Douran, who has'suffered intense pain, is now recovering, but it will be some time before ho recovers the use of his hand. In the local /tournament for the island tennis championship the Steele's Point team defeated, in succession, Torrey Glen, 13—6, and Methodist, 13—5. After a battle royal, wtyich lasted through two afternoons, tlio Steele's Point team wrested from the Longridpe team, 13 —11, the championship cup, v/hich the latter team had held for thirteen years. Great interest was taken in the contest, which attracted a, very largo "gallery." The cheers and counter-cheers could be heard half across the /island. The weather continues warm and dry, and the bananas, whose foliage suffered from the unusually cold winds in the rairiy season, are luxuriating in the heat, and are looking their best. Unfortunately prices on the mainland still remain unsatisfactory.

Tlio' Administrator, Colonel A. J. Bennett, has returned from Canberra, to which place lie had been called some weeks npo, to confer with the Federal on island matters.