The article below was published in the daily newspaper Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXIV, Issue 12837, 2 August 1909, Page 7
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(Per United Press Association.)
NELSON, August 2.
A Riwaka resident reports seeing a mysterious light in the sky ou Saturday week, appearing first from the direction of d'Urville Island, crossing the bay toward Farewell Spit, and then disappearing. It was seen for fully twenty minutes. II was about the size of a bucket, and kept rising and falling.
GORE, August 2.
The airship is still reported to be visiting the South Island, and in an interview with the Gore Standard, published this morning, two people named Brand who kept a look-out on Saturday night gave their impressions. At 11.30 p.m. on Saturday Mrs Brand, looking out of her back window, noticed a bright light in the air in the direction of the Blue Mountains. The light was much brighter than a star. Imagining it was moving, she called Mr Brand, and the two watched it for some time.
They say that they distinctly saw an object which looked like an airship. A bright light was observed at times, with what appeared to be two large fans which covered the light, first on one side, and then on the other, and which at times seemed to go completely round the light. The object was apparently making in a straight line, but with a motion like that of a boat. The object was in view for about half an hour, when it seemed to sink to the ground, and was lost to sight. This, it is now thought, was on account of the object getting behind a cloud or a mountain.
Mrs Brand was up again at 1 a.m., and on looking out the window was surprised to see the object in view again, but this time it was much closer, seeming nearly over the Catholic Church in East Gore, but high up in the air. On this occasion three lights were visible. There was a light at the two ends of the object which was of a good length, judging by the distance separating the lights - and some bright light, looking very much like the head-light on an engine, was also burning. The object was making slow progress, and that the three lights were connected with each other was clearly proved by the fact that they moved at the same rate of speed.
This object was again seen at three o'clock in the morning by Mrs Brand. This time it was apparently directly overhead, but a long way up in the air.
