BICYCLIST CHASED BY A DEER.

Timaru Herald, Volume LX, Issue 2358, 1 April 1897, Page 4

BICYCLIST CHASED BY A DEER.

A Wellington cyclist had a thrilling experience on Tuesday morning when riding towards the end of the Wairarapa Lake. He had cause to pass a mob of cattle, and when some distance ahead of them he had cause to believe he waß being followed. On looking behind he was surprised to see a red buck deer in hot pursuit. The cyclist had a start of about 500 yards and immediately set to work to increase his lead, but having just finished a smart ride of about 12 miles against a head wind he soon found the necessity for a halt. Seeing his efforts at outpacing his pursuer were fruitless, he dismounted to find some weapon to defend himself with. Seeing that the animal was very much in earnest the cyclist thought discretion better than valour, and after a little diplomatic skirmishing eventually managed to get to a tree, into which he • scrambled, taking his machine with him. The deer charged him, and managed to bump the machine as it was drawn upwards, but fortunately did not injure it. It then retired some little distance away, and remained on sentinel duty for half an hour or so— a weary and uncomfortable time for the unfortunate wheelman. Eventually the creature wearied, not having such a stock of patience as the man, and left the field defeated in his object, but not disgraced, l After satisfying himself that the deer had really quitted, the cyclist came down from his perch, mounted his machine, and now declares that he put up a record for three miles— the distance to his destination.— N.Z. Times.

It is stated that in one instance the olaims for old age pensions have been sent in by father, mother, father's brother, and two sons of the first named, who are all over the prescribed age.