PROSPECTORS IN DISTRESS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10035, 28 April 1894, Page 2

PROSPECTORS IN DISTRESS.

the Wild west coast.

(Fjiom Ous Own Cobbesfondent.)

Inxekcakoill, April 27.

Sergeant M'Donnell received a telegram as follows at S o'clock this afternoon from Constable Fret well) stationed at Orepuki:—"l am just informed by Hugh Erskine, a settler west of the Waiau river, that tho threa men— Gordon Harvey, Kelly, and Evans—who left Wilson river overland five weeks ago from Orepuki are safe but destitute, and require assistance. Harvey arrived at Henry Treseder's Government survey camp at the Hump last night in a nude state, reporting lint the other two men were stuck and starving, on the Wilson river side of the Hauroto lake, on the sea bsach. Nothing to save the men can be done unless a steamer or cutter is sent round at once. Mr Erskiua has sent one of his horses and a man to fetch Harvey in, when more information will be got, but as it stands now nothing will save the other two men but a boat of some kind being sent to rescue them from their present position—that is, at the mouth of tho Wairaurahiri river." The s.s. luvercargill was to have sailed from Invercargill jetty at f o'clock this afternoon, but owing to the low tide, and she having stuck for a little while on a mud bank, Sergeant M'Donnell was enabled to communicate the above information to Constable Burrowes, who was on board as a passenger for Cromarty, snd instructed Captain Suudetrom to make search for the men to-night and to-morrow morning. The Wairaurahiri is the liver running out of Lako Hauroto to the sea, and about half-way betwen Preservation Inlet and Orepuki.