LAND AND WATER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2355, 13 April 1899, Page 26

LAND AND WATER.

A shark, some 12ft lons, and of a. Epecies Laid to be unknown in tbo&3 waters, was captured at Nelson last week. The tail, which is flat., is « very large one, and the fins are also , unusually large. Th.* creature had attacked r>, fishing bo»t. AiiJbJd Maori woman named Horina died at Takaka (Nelson) the other day, whoee cge was given on the coffin-plata as U0 years. Bronze and steel platea are arriving at Mossm HerreshofFs shipbuilding yard, in. the United States in such quantities that it is regarded as beyond doubt that the material to be used in constructing the new America Cup defender is now revealed. It is taken as certain that the bottom plates -will be bronze, and those above the water-line steel. It seems, too, that the frames -will be closer together than were those of the Defender, because tho thinness of the plating will necessitate some strengthening of tho hull. The beam is said to exceed that of the Defender by several inches. Workmen who are employed in making the sails declare that the 'area of canvas to be carried br the new yacht ■will be a revelation. It will "astonish the universe." — Laffan. The New Zealand polo team, with 20 ponies, left for Sydney by the Mokoia on Saturday. They are Messrs A. J. Sfcrang, W Strang, A. "S. Baker, and O. .Robinson. A Blenheim telegram states that the Gun

Club's inateh was fired in fi no. weather. There were 32 shootists. -The shooting resulted in five tie 3 between J. Redwood, H. Eccles (Blenheim), Harmair (Kaikoura), Flannigan and Richardson (Wellington). vThey divided £150. A subsequent sweepstake of £11 was won by C. Chovannes, of Wanganui, who was run up to 22 birds by G. CheeEcman, of Blenheim. A London cable says that John Roberts won the billiard championship, finishing brilliantly with a lead of 1814 points over Dawson, his opponent. The match was one of , 18.000 up, under the riew rules of the Billiard [ Association, on a neutral standard table, un- ' der neutral management, for £100 a-eido and the whole of the gate money Wo (Oamaru Mail) are informed that a shooting party had a very successful outing .' at Kurow and the surrounding districts durI ing last week. For three days' shooting, j with four guns, they succeeded in " bagg- ; ing" 70 ducks, 83 pukakis, and 90 hares, I which, is a "very fair estimate_ of the gamo jto be procured in that district Mr Stepi hens, one of the teaching staff at the Otago | School of Mines, an old Oamaru boy, was one of the party. CYCLING IN VICTORIA. MELBOURNE. April 4 Ai, the Druids' Gala on the M.C.C. Grmn.l yesterday tho principal event was the WHEEL RACE, Two miles. First prize £108, second £54, third £18; .£2O also divided among semi-final (not prize) winners. J. T. Kuhle, HOj-aa ... ... R. W. Lewis, 80y3a .. 2 | E. F. 'Wilkach, 'ftOydß __ 3 | j Won by half a wheel. Time, 4min 48 3-stnsr. \ BOWLING. On Saturday afternoon on the Caledonian green the final tic of the Rink Match in connection with the Oajnaru Eastel Tournament was played off between the Kaituna and Green Island Club 3. In spite of the. drizzling rain, "which fell continuously, the game was witnessed by quite a., number of enthusiastic bowlers, and some interesting play was seen. 'Kaituna, having won the toss, elected to lead, and at the end of the seventh head the game was- Kaituna, 6; Green Island, 2. At the fourteenth head, howevei, Green Island had

retrieved themselves, and tho game then stood : Green Island, 10; Kaituna, 8. Some very interesting and exciting play ended in Kaituna winning by 2 points. Tho rinks were composed of tho following players : Kaituha. Green Island. Stokes Harraway " Crawford Srcellie Dall Buchanan Steddon (s) .. 18 T. Smellie (s) .. 16