Just like a scene from a film or a dream – a group of walkers on a beach find a message in a bottle.
The message is asking for help.
It really happened on Wednesday afternoon, when a group of 18 Conservation Department volunteers were walking along Wanganui's South Beach to get back to their vehicle.
The waves had thrown a bottle high up on the shore. It looked as though it had been there for some time. The bottle had contained a soft drink/dietary supplement called Mona Vie. Its lid was the metal screwcap from an energy drink called V.
Inside the bottle was a business card, slightly waterlogged, with the business name HomePlus Wanganui and the sales consultant's name: Nita Taylor. On one side was written, in biro, 'Turn over to find' and on the other 'Help I need help in the river'.
Possibly it was a child's work.
Mr Williams took the bottle home because he was intrigued.
So was Nita Taylor, when the Chronicle rang her yesterday. She said she gave people cards when they called in at her workplace but had no idea how one of them got into the bottle.
"I'm speechless," she said.
Meanwhile, Mr Williams said, more help was needed to remove the South African weed pink ragwort from Whitiau Scientific Reserve, where it smothers native plants. Any able-bodied person who can spare a day to help next month can ring the Conservation Department on (06) 349 2100.
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