DANGERS AT LAWYER'S HEAD.

Otago Witness, Issue 2690, 4 October 1905, Page 18

DANGERS AT LAWYER'S HEAD.

A THRILLING EXPERIENCE. On the Tomahawk side of Lawyer's Head overlooking the Tomahawk Beach is a long stretch of sand drift reaching down the face of the cliff some 25ft to a point where the rocks jut out to the surface again. The drop from these beetling orags to the seething surf below is fully 80ft, and no one having the misfortune to fall over could hope to survive. Just recently a Dunedin resident was traversing this side of the cliff and seated himself on the brink of the sand drift to view and enjoy the surging, roering breakers below. Suddenly, and without warning, the sand slipped ; he slid with the mass, with his back to the cliff, his fatal progress being arrested by the slenderest chance— his foot coming in contact with a jutting crag 25ft below the point from which he started to slide. . It is impossible to realise the feelings of anyone in such a perilous position, where the loss of nerve or a single false move mount certain death I For six hours he rested in painful suspense on this brink of death afraid to move. During that time, at intervals, he saw four different people promenading the beaoh in the distance. He managed to withdraw his handkerchief from his pocket, and gently waved it in the hope of attracting attention, but without effect. As night was coming on his anxiety became painfully acute, as his position was becoming more critical and alarming. In his desperation he felt that he must make an effort to extricate himself.. After a time he managed to get his pocket knife out of his pocket. His trouble then was to turn his body round to face the cliff on such a narrow and dangerous pivot Having succeeded in reversing his position with safety, he then, with the patienoo, care, and deliberation of a man whose life solely depends upon the success of his dangerous undertaking, decided to dig sand-steps. With his pocket knife he gradually, one after the other, dug 25 deep sand-steps, his hope brightening as he slowly neared the top of the sand cliff, but hh fears never left him till he found himself once again in a position of complete security. Once there, his nerves gave way, and he trembled violently and nearly fainted, and his garments were saturated with perspiration. The shock to his nerves ■was po great that on reaching home at night he -was constrained to take to his bed, to whioh he was confined for five days. To anyone familiar with the spot referred to a contemplation of his experience must induce nervous excitement. As there arc many pleasure-seekers attracted round that part of the coastline — the view from the cliffs being particularly attractive,— we trust this may serve as a warning of the danger of venturing too near the brink of these sand cliffs. Several people have been lost along the coastline in that direction — supposed to have committed suicide, but who can prove that? The only thing known for certain is that their bodies were never recovered.

A very old resident of Masterton planted ' some oak trees in his garden many years ago. The trees, have grown, and the old settler informed soma friends a day or two ago that he was about to have one of them felled and sawn into boards at a local timber mill. With the boards he proposes to make coffins for himself and his aged wife, and keep them in readiness for the day .wbeij jhey will be required,