A FALSE ERRAND.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21243, 26 January 1931, Page 10

A FALSE ERRAND.

Some excitement was caused in Port Chalmers on Friday afternoon when it ■was reported to the police that the body of a woman Was lying at the side of alagoon about a mile north of the St. Leonards railway station. A constable was despatched to the scene by an after* noon train, which made a stop at the lagoon to allow the representative of the law to alight. He, no doubt, was convinced that a tragedy had occurred, but his grim face gave place to mirth when he turned the “ body ” over. The constable Quickly discovered that the huddled heap on the edge of the bank was only a straw dummy dressed in feminine clothes, It was proved' later that tho dummy had been thrown from a carriage of the northbound express by n .man who had been the victim of a practical joke in Dunedin on Friday morning. The constable finished his errand by making a bonfire of the dummy. ,

REGATTA COURSES. The Otago Regatta Committee has logged a new course for motor boats which will compete at the annual regatta on February 7. The boats will start between the starter’s boat on the south side of the George street wharf and the buoy off the Bowen pier, The competitors will follow the blind channel and round a buoy on the Port Chalmers side of the powder magazine. The course has been logged three-quarters of a mile each Way. and as the boats will turn the channel mark twice, they will complete n distance of three miles. The main channel will be used for the rowing course, and the boats will finish between the end of the George street wharf and the hulk Broxton All the events will be in full view of the spectators from all the wharves. Ihe yacht races will be started off the George street wharf. The boats will sail down the main channel, and round the beacon off Bonner’s, Yachts competing in the all-comers’ race will sail three times round the courser 18ft and other yachts twice round, and 12ft 6in and under boats once round,