A TALL STORY OP NEW GUINEA EXPLORATION.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 183, 18 December 1886, Page 8

A TALL STORY OP NEW GUINEA EXPLORATION.

My correspondent (who ia, I am proud to say, my friend) is an English officer whose reputation stands high in the scientific world. Hi 3 simplicity offerß a pleasing contrast to the stuff which solemn scientific men give off at intervals. He Bays : — " We fc^e managed to get book from New Guinea, and I shall be glad to see Londonagain. 1 suppose I shall have to write a book, and I am keeping myself in training ; but I may tell you one of our little experiences which gave me some anxious moments while it lasted. We both (that is old Bonner and I) had good repeating rillep, and each of us were good for sixteen shots. If we could have hauled up the Gatling gun, 1 should have been glad ; but it was no go. Well, we noticed at eundown a queer sort of hill that seemed to be shaved off clean at the top, as you cut an egg. Bonner never will be quiet, so he proposed that we should take a turn up it. When we got to the edge of the shaven part of th 6 hill, I found that we were on the verge of a big hole that looked like a crater. Something was moving, and I thought that Nature might decide to five off a salute to entertain us, and I wished to decline the honour and scuttle. Presently Bonner said, •Ia that a tree growing ?T? T Something waved upwards like a tree from the well of the crater ; it looked like an enormous hammer with a head about as big aa an ordinary elephant ; then there was a gleam of light and then a monstrous rustle* I said, ' By Jove, Bonner, that knob on the and of the tree is a bird's head.' He ia always in for fun, so he said, ' Let's fire down.' 1 let go, and so did he ; there was a bang, a rattle, a black shadow, a sound like whoosh ? and a black mass flew through the uir. A rush of wind like an enormous tornado sent us both flying clown the slope, and before we looked up the black shape went flapping away like a monster kite. Bonner yelled, ' Fire ! It's a bird or a, flying elephant,' and we both emptied out magazines till we had only two bullets left It was no good. We saw lump& of feathery stuff flying, bur that" beggar never stopped. We both grasped a bit, I can tell you, and we were more inclined than ever to grasp when we saw a lot of lumps in the crater like the dome of St. Paul's Well, I exaggerate there, but they were as big as cottages. When we had climbed down, Bonner whispered, By George, we've fouud the big bird ! The big bird ! Let's fire into one of the domes. 1 hoy 're eggs.' We both pulled, and I wieh you could have seen the sight ! Moses ! It was a caution. As we were watching tho flood, a black shade came over, and Bonner sung out, * Here's the brute back ! Inside the egg with you ! Quick !' I will tell you another time how we got clear " Now, after this simple story — which I recommended to the attention of Government, who should immediately order another Commission of Inquiry — I don't think we need mind the Professors much.