PRESERVATION INLET GOLDFIELD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10037, 1 May 1894, Page 2

PRESERVATION INLET GOLDFIELD.

(Feom Oub Own Cohbespohdeht.) - •■ April 28. During the past fortnight we have experienced here a continuance of fierce gales, accompanied with heavy hailstorms and vivid lightning, also deafening thunder. On Sunday last a fearful gale spraDg up, first from the N.W., veering round to the S.W. about midnight. The Pujsegur Point lighthouse was struck by tho electrical current, but no actual damage was dons, as the fall force of the eUotrici y passed down the safety conductor. Considerable alarm was experienced by thoEe on watch in case tho lights might bo ex'iaguiEhed. At the same time one of tho heivii sb seas ever experienced was running into Preservation Inlet, and although tho lighthouse boat and flatly were htuled up some distance ou land above high-water mark, the teas were so high that they broke over them and dashed them to pieces. At Kisbce the effect of tho storm was also disastrous, one boat being smashed to pieces at tho jetty and endless damage being done to teuts, huts, &c, and many very narrow escapes from death aro reported from the falling oE trees round the camp. I am sorry to inform you that distressing news has jußt been received of the three prcs- ' pectora who started from here some six weeks ! ago to make through the bush to Orepuki. Their names are respectively Gordon Harvey (son of Mr.Hatvey, solicitor, of Invercargill), W. Evans (brother ts the manager of the Round Hill mine), and Edward Kelly (a new chum from Australia, who had been working at and sold out of I<\ M'Kenzie's claim at Crayfish). Considerable anxiety was experienced here for their safety when no news was received of their arrival at Orepuki a fortnight back, and the police were informed by Mr A. Forbes here, and advised to send out search parties at once. To-d»y wo Hear that Evans and Kelly are lying in a dying state from starvation and exposure in the bush near the coast by the Waisurahiri river. The news was received at tho camp of Mr Tresseder, who happened to ba surveying on tho Balk Peaks, and Harvey managed to reach their camp in a very exhausted state.

The's.s. Invercargill is leaving here again this rooming as quickly as possible to examine the coast and see if they can find any trace of them, but owing to the heavy galo now blowicg it is doubtful if she will be able to approach, near enough to distinguish them unless they have kept a fire burning, but they will soon be past relief if not speedily found.

With regard to mining matters here, everything has been nearly at a standstill owing to the weather. The Golden Site claim, I hear, is Hooded out, and it will probably be some mouths before a crushing can be obtained. A little prospecting is being done on some of the other claims.

At Crayfish Island moat of the alluvial diggings are said to bo now almost worked out, and the one or two who have been fortunate enough to-"make a rise" are thinking about starting for Coolgardie.

At Coal Island several parties have " sst in," but so far not even tucker has been made.

I must again strongly urge people not to come here for alluvial diggings as they are now all worked out, and it depends entirely upon how the reefs turn out if it is ever to be a place or revert to its native state. We shall now have the advantage of tbe assistance of a proficient mining expert by the arrival of Mr C. P. Rasmussen, brother to Mr J. F. Rasmusseu, the Government engineer of the road. It is high time wo did have a real expert here, as we are sick of novices' opinions regarding these reefs.