The motor launch Virginia, owned by Mr W. H. Hazard, of Auckland, was attacked and damaged by a swordfish off Cape Brett on Wednesday (says the Auckland Star).
A party, consisting of Mr Hazard, Dr Pope, and Mr E. P. Anders, of Sydney, were on a fishing trip. When off Cape Brett one of the party secured with a rod a fish which ultimately proved to be a swordfish, probably weighing between 300lb and 400lb.
The fish, on being hooked, made straight for the launch, broached at about ten yards away, and, re-entering the water, rammed the launch, the sword penetrating nine inches through the one-inch kauri planking.
After a struggle the sword broke, and the fish, still on the hook, made for the sea. After being held for another five minutes or so, the line became entangled and broke, and the fish disappeared.
The launch was found to be leaking badly, and the party had to put back to Russell in quick time. The launch was beached for repairs. A piece of the sword was found inside the boat. This is stated to be the first instance known in New Zealand where a swordfish has attacked a boat.
Objectors targeted
MR J. C. Anderson, of Stirling, expressed a strong objection at the monthly meeting of the Clutha Farmers' Union to the Government's action in placing conscientious objectors on the State Training Farm at Wereroa.
About 30 of these persons have been placed on this farm, and Mr Anderson stated that any decent person would not allow a member of his family to be working among them.
He went on to refer to the conscientious objectors as the "meanest skunks on the face of the earth'', and stated that it was a most contemptible action on the part of the Government to consider that any white man would work alongside such persons.
The conscientious objectors "should be dumped in the sea,'' said Mr P. S. Watt.
Mr Christie observed that while they were called ``conscientious objectors'', they never knew they had a conscience till the war broke out.
Other members also strongly objected to the Government's procedure, Mr Anderson stating that he would not allow his son to work alongside a conscientious objector "or any such beast''.
Harvest conditions
The conditions in North Otago last week were favourable for the prosecution of harvest work, and in all directions farmers were busy, long hours being worked in order to get the crops into a position of safety.
Cutting was completed some time since, and now the thrashing mills have been kept going consistently; but the millpower has not been equal to the demand, and a very considerable amount of both wheat and oats is being put into stack.
When the recent rain came it caught a good deal of grain in the fields, and where the ears were on the ground, the hot muggy weather added to the moisture caused a sprouting in some fields, but the injury in that direction has not been so bad as might have been anticipated, and if the weather remains favourable the grain generally will be got into the bag in good condition.
In a number of cases the work of gathering the harvest has been laborious and attended with considerable difficulty owing to the crops, both of wheat and oats, having been flattened into a tangled mass. In many such cases yields will be affected to some extent owing to loss of grain in the ingathering.
- ODT, 27.2.1918.
