Kingston Flyer bought by investors

The Kingston Flyer has been sold unconditionally to mystery buyers, and it remains unclear whether the historic train will remain in the area.

A spokesman for the investors, Adrian Chisholm, confirmed the unconditional sale yesterday.

Settlement would happen later in 2017, and the buyers had a ‘‘com- pletely open mind to all options,’’ he said.

Chisholm said the buyers were ‘‘local to the district’’ but would not comment further on their identity.

The Kingston Flyer and associated land and buildings had been offered for sale by its owner, David Bryce, for $2 million in May 2016, and in July it was revealed there were ‘‘several’’ potential buyers.

Chisholm said two AB locomotives, about 80 hectares of land, and buildings associated with the Flyer were included in the deal.

The buyers would be consulting with key stakeholders and businesses in the area to help make a decision on what to do with the Flyer, Chisholm said.

Southern Steam Train Charitable Trust chairman Lindsay Buckingham said the trust was not the mystery buyer.

‘‘We weren’t as far advanced in our studies [as the buyer was], we were not yet in a position to make an offer,’’ he said.

Strong job growth

Queenstown Lakes’ job growth has soared almost four times over the national rate, making it the country’s top-performing region during 2016. The was New Zealand’s top performing territorial authority, with employment expanding by 10.3 per cent over the year ended March 31, 2016, according to the latest Infometrics’ 2016 Regional Economic Profiles report. Senior economist Benje Patterson said the growth was almost four times the 2.7 per cent rate of employment expansion seen nationally, and well above the 5.9 per cent employment growth recorded by second-placed Western Bay of Plenty District. Central Otago district placed 10th with 3.9 per cent growth.

Makeup mirror firestarter

A makeup mirror reflecting sunlight ignited curtains in an Invercargill home yesterday. The occupants of the home on Craig St, in Waikiwi, dialled 111 about 4pm to report a smoke-filled room. Firefighters used a thermal imaging camera to investigate. They found the curtains were ignited by the mirror, which was reflecting the sun on to the curtains and heating them. Fire communications shift manager Ian Littlejohn said it was the first report of a fire caused by a mirror he had heard of. ‘‘It’s certainly something to be aware of, when you go out.’’