MASTERTON.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 118, 19 July 1873, Page 3

MASTERTON.

(from our own correspondent). I am pained to have to record another death by drowning ere we have well recovered the shock caused by Merrick’s lamentable death. The man drowned in this case was an immigrant named Nis Boisen, ex Forfarshire, who was travelling from Gamp Opaki to Tutailcara in the Forty-Mile Bush. When about two miles from his destination he attempted to cross a bush creek by walking over a log which acted as a temporary bridge, but losing his footing he was precipitated into the creek, at that time much swollen, and falling on his face the heavy swag on his shoulders had the effect of keeping him down, thereby causing his death. The water at the precise spot where he met his death was only four feet deep. The body was recovered almost immediately after the painful occurrence, and conveyed to Tutaikara, where the poor fellow is to be buried. Fortunately he was not a married man. This is the first accident attended with fatal results that has occurred on the line since the location of the Scandinavians in that quarter, although it is fourteen months since they arrived in the colony. They have completed upwards of thirtyeight miles of bush-eutting and roadmaking, in which employment they are oft-times placed in positions of imminent danger by the falling of trees, not to mention how prone bush-cutters are to severe cuts and bruises by the constant use of the axe. Larrikinism of a very serious nature is beginning to exhibit itself in this hitherto peaceful township. A quiet milch cow was so hacked with an axe or other sharp instrument as to necessitate its being shot. The offendei’, a boy named E. Winteringham, was arrested and brought before J. V. Smith, Esq, and A. W. Ren all, Esq, J.Ps.. After examination he was remanded, being admitted to bail in three sureties of £SO each. Pig-killing by contract is being carried on very extensively in the Whareama district. Damage incalculable has been done to the roads and bridges leading to Castle Point, occasioned by the boisterous weather and the flooded state of the rivers. The Taueru river, on Monday last, was over the cable wire which anchors the ferry boat, a height which it has never been known before to rise. A small bridge between Taueru and Kahumangi

has been severely damaged by dropping down, and renders crossing with a horse a dangerous feat. A bridge at Ducrow’s Creek was completely capsized. A great deal of the newly-formed road at Tinui was carried away, the replacing of which will necessitate a vast amount of labor. Landslips are too numerous to particularise. The mailman met with a great many stoppages and mishaps in the execution of his duty. Reports from 44 Scandinavia” state that an immense deal of damage has been done to the road in the Forty-Mile Bush. The whole of the temporary bridges erected to keepfup communication have been washed away, and quantities of heavy timber deposited in the line of road. A messenger arrived here on Thursday evening and reported that another man had been lost in the Makakahi river. He was seen to reach an island in the middle of the stream, but shortly after disappeared and has not since been heard of. A considerable deflection is noticeable in. the approaches to the Waingawa bridge. It should be seen to directly. The .weight of the superincumbent metal is evidently the cause.