WAIKOUAITI.

Otago Witness, Issue 663, 12 August 1864, Page 19

WAIKOUAITI.

(PBOK I'HK DATJ V TIMF3 OORBBSPONDEHT.)

MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT.

Quite a gloom has been casi. over the pace by a most melancholy acci ''ent tbat occurred tbe niabt before last, whereby two poor fellows Jost tiieir lives. The following ia a fc»atement of Ibe information I have received : — v party of four men who arrived iv the "Aoiirew JackW fiom Scotland a week or two since, left Dnnedia with Uie intention of going: to the divings Thpy arrived here on Monday nfternoon. purchased a tent and provisions sufficient for their evenio» meal, and then weut up 10 the Hawk*bury Bush to camp for the night. They lighted n. fire by a large tree, by the side of which tbey pitched their tfut. Before reti'ln, 1 ? to rest the flames liiui spread to the roots of the tvee, and fairly set iton fire ; being " new chums" they apprehended no danger, bo went to bed. The tent was vet y small Bby 6. Two of them sleeping 1 together at either cud. In the middle of the night the tree fell with a tremendous crash upon them, a branch coining exactly between tbem, proviueniially saved tbe lives of uwo. The one sleeping at the extreme end ot the tent escaped unhurt, tbe one next him became entangled in the debris, but fortunately was extiicated by bis fellow without serious injury. The other two poor fellows Jay with the v-ee upon them. Their companions at ence went ft r assistance to the Police Camp, about a mile distant. On their way they called at two O'three houses, but behaved in &uch a frantic manner as to frighten the inmates, who appear scarcely to have believed their tale, and advised them to go to the police station. Sergeant Burns and the constables immediately set off for the spot. When they arrived, they found one of the men dead, and the other in such a position that it was impossible to free him withont cross-cutting the tree, which was four feet in diameter at the slump; this occasioned aaother delay, having to send for a saw, and from the lime the tree fell to vhe time the poor fellow was extiicated, some two or three hours flapsed. I believe he remained sensible the whole time, but suffering intense pain. It was a perfect mary life could endive snch dieadful ajony even Oi a moment. The tree fell across b's body, and ivi v was impels.' We ho could survive tiie injuries usiriued. He \v&* Inougiu iuto .own as soon as »>o:-.Sib)e r ml receive tvey p'uen.'on, but he only i''.<^e»e«l iill l?'t < : ?,'<)c when de.t<.u put; an enil >o ii-s indescribable P',oov. Aii inqaesi was beld 00-oay I'tjoo boo' tlie bodies, pqu a verdici 0' " Anc'de-TslyLiUed by ibe /all: 03 o f a ' iree » \/as ie-»trne(. Sin'tiliu* to say, boih men bo' p » >J\p. same name. i'<<nnb. not vela.ed— be^'.g Ciiß.'"-«i Milter and Alexander Mi'ler. One leave! :• >■• «' fii)ii ( pve C'iV-e- 1 in SeoUtmrl to mou>'>i .ii3> 'oss ; ihe otiiei 1 n wite iv Diinedtn. I bave

lal'iedMom e-'ieiiog i.-.io many liule incidents (oiioecteil wifb uiie hombie alTaii 1 , but one can .^ a ceiy imagine a inoie Oh'- < cc.ing' case. bnme three o>- foiir Maoris appeared at tho Tesitient Magi\ u -3!',e's Coovt tins moining, c-'tav.'d with rebuiiaa: one of their tribe from a norjstible who had taken him into custody for drunkenness, and was escorting him to the cptip. The Maoris, in defence, said that they v»<jre goin^ to t?(;e tbe man home, and evidently (Vdn't believe in allowing one of their kin to be (tisTi-ace^ by becoming Me inmate of such a place as tiielock up. The tt.M. fined them LI each, i>i forming them iiwi they were liable to a penalty of L2O, and caotioned them against pursuing inch a course another time, for if tbey aga ; n ccme before hun for such an offence he should punish them move severely. The Maoris paid bhe LI and appeared perfectly satisfied. When I wrote my last letter we had just had a heavy fall of snow ; and the weather looked very ominous. Fine clear warm days, however, agaiu set in, which have partially dried the muddy roads,