The article below was published in the daily newspaper Wairarapa Daily Times, New Zealand, Volume LXI, Issue 9440, page 5, August 4, 1909.
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(By Telegraph-Press Association).
NELSON, Last Night.
Mars, in conjunction with the prevailing "airship fever," was responsible for a good deal of excitement in Nelson last night. Mars is now approaching its closest proximity to the earth, and scintillated with unusual brilliance, giving some observers the impression that the phantom airship reported from various parts of New Zealand was contemplating a descent. News was carried to the theatre, where the Citizens' Band bazaar was in progress, and the building rapidly emptied. The incident may possibly explain some reports from places where an airship was deduced from the appearance of an unusual light.
WELLINGTON, Last Night
George Mitchell, a resident of Wellington, reports having seen from Island Bay, at 9.30 o'clock to-night, what appeared like a large arc light out at sea, which travelled out of sight. The light was far too high up to be mistaken for a light on a ship's masthead.
Another person makes an independent report that he saw a light in the same direction at the same time, et says that there appeared to be an opaque body above. As nearly as could be estimated the light was about a quarter of a mile from the shore.
