Melbourne Cup: Brew And Second Coming, Big Day For TAB –US Elections – Derris Dust Danger – Murder Arrests – Phil Goff Harasser Sentenced – Police Crash – Snakes Alive – Shark Condemned
MELBOURNE CUP: BREW AND SECOND COMING: Kiwi owned and trained horses Brew and Second Coming run 1st and 3rd in the Melbourne Cup. The owners of Brew couldn’t believe their outside had won. The jockey was a Melbourne apprentice. Brew is a six-year old gelding by Sir Tristram out of Horlicks, the winner of the Japan Cup. Brew used to be naughty when younger and once broke his strapper’s leg. The fact that Brew is trained here means the Aussie’s may claim some of the credit. Brew is everyone’s champion today.
MELBOURNE CUP: BIG DAY FOR TAB: The TAB has taken more than $6 million in bets today and is headed for a new daily record. More than 1 million bets were taken on the Cup itself. The Australian High Commission had a party. More than $1 million was wagered in the last 20 minutes alone. Kiwis have had more than a flutter on the horses today. NZers are expected to bet a total of close to $11 million today.
US ELECTIONS: The US Polls are about to open in the US and a result should be through within 24 hours. Al Gore and George Bush are busy campaigning to the end. So many voters so little time. In most Presidential campaigns one of the candidates is expected to win. But not in this one. Gore and Bush both say they do not feel tired.
DERRIS DUST DANGER: One of the ingredients in a common garden pesticide has been shown to cause Parkinson’s disease in rats. Derris Dust is one of the commonest pesticides of all. The cause of Parkinson’s disease is a mystery to doctors at present. Derris Dust is sold by Yates who say they will act quickly if it is shown there is danger. Gardeners say they will keep using it, but be careful.
MURDER ARRESTS: Five men appeared in a Christchurch court today charged with murder of a gang member after a league match. Armed police swooped on several addresses early this morning.
PHIL GOFF HARRASSER: An Auckland man has plead guilty to making threatening calls to Cabinet Minister Phil Goff and has been sentenced to a 12 month suspended jail sentence.
POLICE CRASH: A woman has had to have stress counseling after a police van crashed into her house.
SNAKES ALIVE: Wet weather is hampering the search for a python snake on the loose in Auckland.
SHARK CONDEMNED: A death sentence has been passed on a great white shark thought to have killed a swimmer in Perth. Normally great white sharks are protected but rangers have been given the green light to kill the white pointer. The four metre shark is presently missing. A shark catcher says it is probably sick. Unless the shark is caught it promises to be a nervous summer for Perth swimmers.