CAPTURE OF AN ENORMOUS SNAKE

Patea Mail, Volume X, Issue 121, 20 October 1897, Page 3

CAPTURE OF AN ENORMOUS SNAKE

Auckland, Oct. IS. Sir Walter Bailer returned from the Islands on Friday. At Wakayer, Fiji, he had an opportunity of exploring a line of reef with its submarine crest of coral, which he describes Jas wonderful beyond conception. At the end of a fortnight he returned to Suva, and with young Mr Thurston’s aid he succeeded in making a valuable collection of native birds and butterflies, fishes and shells, besides obtaining some very rare native orchids. At Makaya he captured a Fijian snake of phenomenal size, being nearly seven feet in length. Captain Langdale, R.N., dur* ing his 15 years’ residence on the island had never seen anything of the kind, and at Terulle it was regarded as a novelty, the natives coming from far and near to see it. The oldest white inhabitant could scarcely credit that it was an indigenous product. Sir Walter took it to Samoa with him for the purpose of forwarding it alive to the Zoological Society of London, butnofavorable opportunity of presenting itself he brought it here for the Auckland Museum. At Samoa Sir Walter bad an interview with Malietoa, with whom he was greatly impressed, but owing to the death of Tukuano (Minister for Lands) at Tonga he was unable to see the King of Tonga. Sir Walter is writing a paper on coral reef formations for the Transactions of the New Zealand Institute. He endorses Mr Peicy Smith’s views as to tbe early home of the Maori. He was delighted with the trip, and he speaks highly of the Union Steamship Company’s arrangements.