AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XII, Issue 3469, 12 November 1879, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(Pee Eotomahana, at Auckland ) Melboubne, Nor. 6. Small, the Government diver at Belfast, nearly lost his life through being seized by an ootopus. Ho was repeating his efforts to dislodge a rock when his left hand got clutched in a hole by the marine monster, and he was unable to reach his life line, but eventually got hold of an iron bar with one of his feet. On account of the peculiar position he could only deal blows overhanded with the other arm into the during which lime the octopus had increased its grip. It was twelve minutes before Small could release himself in a very exhausted condition. He had great difficulty in keeping his feet dop, as air was pumped through the interior of the dress and inflated it, and if his feet had got uppermost he would soon have become insensible. Evan if he could have reached the life line, it would have resulted in the Bra being broken or pulled out. The hand was sucked terribly. Ho described the agony as dreadful from tho arms of the octopus pulling. The remains of the octopos measured eight feet across.. The affair occurred in tho river Moyne. The following thirteen cricketers were selected for tho Intercolonial Match against New South Wales:—Allan, Alexandor, Blackburn, Boyle, Campbell, Coopor, Healey, Horan, Mulloghj MaoUonald Palmer, Slight, and Tennant.