The article below was published in the daily newspaper Wairarapa Daily Times, Waipara, New Zealand, Volume LXI, Issue 9437, page 5, July 31, 1909.
|
AN ELUSIVE PHENOMENON.
(By Telegraph -- Press Association.)
TIMARU, Last Night
The mysterious-light alleged to be an airship passed over Timaru at 10 o'clock last evening. The Harbourmaster, Captain Tait, said that he saw the light and it was nothing more than a ball of concentrated electricity known to sailors as "Jack o' the Lantern," a frequent accompaniment of foggy weather.
GORE, Last Night
Two dredge hands engaged on night shift on the Syndicate No. 2 dredge were accorded a view of the airship at 5 a.m. at close quarters. They state that the ship lowered through the mist, and circled round in the vicinity, and that two figures were plainly discernible on board. She was carrying lights at both ends. After the visitors had manoeuvred she shot upwards. A yellow glare was noticed, and the weather clearing a little the airship was last seen travelling in a south-easterly direction.
WESTPORT, Last Night
A resident of the Buller district the other morning, at 4 o'clock, saw four times a mysterious object floating over Mount Rochfort, somewhat resembling a fire balloon, but it was too far off for him to judge accurately what the object was.
