THE WAIKATO SAURIAN Is it a Taniwha ?

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 203, 14 May 1887, Page 5

THE WAIKATO SAURIAN Is it a Taniwha ?

Hamilton, May 9. The "Saurian Monster" is reported to have been seen at Scotchman's Valley, but the whole affair is regarded as a hoax. It is perfectly absurd that an animal unknown to naturalists should make its appearance here, and those who believe it are regarded as the dupes of a lively imagination. On the other hand, the following narrative by Mr Thos. Russell, a settler in Scotchman's Valley, seems most circumstantial, and it is noticeable that the description of the animal and its habits agrees thoroughly with that formerly given of the mysterious brute seen at Hamilton. Mr Russell says: -"About six weeks ago, on a very dark night, my two sons, William and James, went fishing for eels in the Waitakaruru creek, which takes its rise in the Maungakawa range, and is one of the headwaters of the Piako river. It is a small creek with a stony bottom, narrow near my place, bixt widening out into a swampy course at Mr Payton's farm. The place where they fish is about a quarter of a mile from the house, and my two sons referred to are both young men of about full age and used to the country. William went first, and was sitting motionless beside the creek fishing, when ho heard some steps of some one approaching, coming down stream. Thinking it was his brother he for fun kept quiet, and the steps ceased about 8 yards from where he was sit ting. Whatever it was stood still as if to smell, and then went shuffling along towards where a dead cow was lying, poisoned by eating tutu. Immediately afterwards he heard his brother coming along whistling, and knew that it was not him before. About the same time some horses which were grazing (it was a point formed by the creek) became startled by something which they saw and galloped wildly away, and the ' article,' instead of going to the dead cow, was heard by my sons to splash across the creek, and go crashing through the scrub on the opposite side. It was not a pig, as it neither grunted nor made any such noise. My sons came straight home, and informed us of what had happened, We had heard that the children of Richardson (Mr Payton's man) had been chased by a strange animal a couple of months before, and nad laughed at the time, but now thought there might be something in it. We therefore took our dogs and a lantern, armed ourselves with lanterns and pitchforks, and went to search for the creature. We soon found its tracks with the lantern, and followed them in the soft ground beside the creek until we came to the place where it went into the sorub, and there of course we lost it. We tried to get our dogs to go in, but though they are good animals, and well trained, they were cowed and would not enter the scrub afc all. We did not enter it ourselves, as we did nofc know what we might have to face. That is six weeks ago.

We traced it that night along from Mr Pay ton's direction. Its feetmarks wore about a foot apart, showing it had short legd. Its foot has a pad and three claws in front and two smaller ones behind From fronb to back of the foot would be at least four inches. My son thinks tho animal had a shuffling gait and was very heavy. Richardson informs mo he ha& since seen numerous marks of tho animal, but never seen the thing itself. It appears to move about in the dark, but I should think has not very keen sight. Richardson lias informed me he has heard it about the sheds at the house in the dark, but has uevcr hud a chance to shoot it. Wo never said anything about the matter at the time as wo did not wish to be laughed at, but us you have asked me, that is till I know."