THE SHOTOVER.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume I, Issue 27, 1 August 1863, Page 4

THE SHOTOVER.

(from our own correspondent.) Maori Point, July 28. Since my last communication I have received the following startling intelligence of a most frightful accident or catastrophe having occurred on the morning of the 26th ult. in a small gully at the Sandhills, about eight miles from here, by which twelve men were smothered, and several others severely bruised. The cause assigned for this dreadful accident was that during the preceding night a heavy landslip had f rmed a complete dam in a small creek in the centre of the gully, and after a considerable time burst, crushing and carrying everything before it, smothering some of the unfortunate victims who were inmates of, and destroying a camp comprising in all five huts, in one of which were fifteen men who had taken refuge from the pitiless storm during that night. Three of those were extracted alive, and ten dead; another two are yet missing. Two men in one of the other huts were likewise severely iniured, but they are expected to survive. July 30. I attended an inquest held on the 28th ult. by Mr. Warden Williamson, on the bodies of the deceased miners at the Sandhills. A post mortem examination was made by Dr. Combe on one of the bodies, and a verdict was returned of death by suffocation. Intelligence has just reached here, whic h I regret to say has been authenticated, of another f arful catastrophe and loss of human life. Eleven more fellow creatures have been hurled into eternity. On Sunday at twelve p. m., about four miles above Arthur's Point, on the opposite side of the Shotover and about two miles below Moke Creek, a heavy landslip occurred, forming a complete dam across the river, which impeded the heavy rush of the current for five or ten seconds. Situated underneath, or close to the rider, were two huts, in one of which were ten men, two of whom were invalids. On the first action of the landslip two of the men carried

one of the invalids to another hut, and whilst they were preparing a strether for the other the heavy force of the landslip took place, which completely smothered the remaining seven men and hut. In the other hut were five men, one of whom most miraculously escaped, but the other four shared the same sad fate as their companions. Many of the miners here are leaving in terror and disgust from the great clanger attending their perilous avocation. No one is scarcely safe from the frequent slips of land, and rocks, which to all appearance have stood for ages, caused undoubtedly from the action of frost and rain undermining them. The appearance of things here is enough to dishearten even the stoutest of hearts, for no sooner is one flood ended and men fairly set to work to repair the ravages done by the former flood, than it is succeeded by another. Truly may we say " Hope deferred maketh the heart sick." Yet notwithstanding the gloomy state of affairs, numerous fresh arrivals take place daily. It is reported here that some new ground has been opened on a terrace adjacent to Wilson's Beach, which I hear is of a most promising nature; but Ido not wish to mislead parties by coming up here to a place where I cannot vouch for the truth of the report, more especially when the provisions are so high, and the weather so inclement. Strange as it may appear, were the river and its tributaries once more at their medium, parties are most confident of their ultimate success.

lam glad to perceive that the miners here are possessed of a little more common sense than they were in the days of 1852 and 1853 in Victoria, and not carried away by every stump orator that chooses to agitate any popular fallacy. One of this class has been here endeavoring to institute a Court of Mines, but the project died still-born. I will not pretend to say whether a Court of Mines, would be advantageous to the mining community generally or not, but nearly all in this quarter condemn them from their former antecedents in Victoria. Were the mining further advanced it might be conducive to the general good, but at the present early stage of the colony I am of a contrary opinion. I only speak the voice of the public generally. Do the Government ever intend to erect any bridges in this locality, for there has been no means of communication for the last five or six days at Packer's Point, whence all the population from Skipper's Creek and the west side of the Shotover have to derive all their supply of butcher's meat, &c. The width of the river at this particular place is from 30 to 40 feet. The erection of a substantial wooden bridge capable of carrying foot passengers and pack horses would not cost above £IOO. The miners purpose petitioning the Government for a grant for this purpose. I regret to add that portions of the new bridle track from Arthur's Point to here has given way by the late floods.