MANUHERIKIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 663, 12 August 1864, Page 21

MANUHERIKIA.

The floods of Friday last have done considerable damage to the mining interests, as well -, having destroyed a large amount of property. As at the Dunstan, there has been a great clear out from the banks of the river of those havir," claim? on low lying beaches. The claimholder& at the^ Frenchman's, Half-mile, and Junction re. main in hopes of being able to get to get to work again. Of course all the claims at those three places were swamped out. and the extensive excavations were siltr d up with the debris of the flooc\ It will take a considerable time to render them again workable. Tunnell and Company's claim, which adjoins that of the Frenchman's" suffered considerable damage through the bursting of the race which supplies the water wheel. This race runs on the top of an embai/kment about seventy feet in height ; upon bursting, the water descended down the steep face of the workings with great fury, carrying down the ground to the cxlent of over one hundred tons; had the accident happened in the daytime instead of at night loss of life must have ensued. The men iv the paddock would have been killed by the falling mass, while those in the tunnel would have been, drowned by the rising water before help could have reached them. All the workings here, as well as at the Half-mile Beach, are in a highly dangerous state ; at the latter place one man has already lost hh life, and without the greatest of caution ia used other mißhaps are sure to follow. Work is to be resumed this morning, and by the end of the week, should the river still continue low, everything is expected to be once more in order. Tha yield of gold up to the time of the flood was as "good as ever, and a long sea«on of luck appears in store for the fortu* nate claimholders on this favorite beach. The owners of the back claim abutting on Tunnell'B, sunk last week a shift to the depth of seventyfive feet, and obtained good prospects, but have registered in consequence of the rise of the river. Brown's party have worked out their front claim, wbich was very rich, but limited in extent; those at the back have now the opportunity to work out theirs, and will use the machine for keeping it clear of water.

At the Manorbnrn and Mauuherikia Siver the damaee by the flood has been very great ; a large - portion of the fluming which crosses the latter stream near Charley's middle feny was washed away, and a number of claims near the Island inundated. Between three and four o'clock on Friday afternoon the Government df,m. lately erected for diverting the course of the Manorburn, waa wa&hed away, and a frightful rush of water swept down tha original course of the creek, swamping everything before it, and totally destroying the Grand Junction Company's dam ; the owners of which intend bringing an action asainst* tie Government as the damage has been caused solely through the sudden escape of water from the dam erected by the gold fields authorities. With such velocity did the water come down that the miners working on the flat had to run for their lives ; while many required to be extricated with ropes. Still with all the damage, the old saying '* that it's an ill wind that blows nobody any good," will be thoroughly verified, as by the removal of the dam, Sandison's and Hunter's parties will be enabled to work themselves round to advantage, especially the former party, whose claim, through the obnoxious dam, was for the greater part of a highly aqueous character^

Capture op a Federal Ship by thb Floeida.— The barque Francis Milly, Eynon from the Mauritius for London, has landed at Plymouth part of the crew of the Federal ship Avon, a prize to the Confederate warship Florida. The Avon, a fine vessel of 1051 tons, Captain Howes, belonging to Messrs Hartley, Lord and Co., of _ Boston, was from Howland's Island, laden with guano, for Queenstown for orders. Oa March 29, in latitude 1413 N., longitude 34* W., she was boarded by the Florida, and made a prize. The Avon's crew, twenty-four in aIL. wiih her stores and the nautical instruments of her officers, were transferred to the Florida, and the following day the prize was burned. Ten of the Avon's crew subsequently joined the Florida. Captain Howes, his |wife, and two children, and five of his crew, were put on board the Francis Milly, on the 4th of April. The rest of the crew were reserved to be put on board some other passing vessel. The Avoa was the first prize made by the Florida since her departure from B»-est, about fifty days before. The crew of theAvon report very favourably of the treatment they received on board the Florida.

The Theft op the Racehorse Troubadour. Alluding to the stealing from Mr Chisholm, of; the Levels, of his favorite racer, by Ben Hall, the _ Young Star of Saturday remarks :— The parting between Troubadour and his owner on the sticking up night, is described by an eyewitness as much affecting:— "Let mepatthee once again," sobbed Mr Chisholm. "Ifyouare determined to take Troubadour, Ben, be kind to him !" t'n the horse being led out of the stable for the bushranger by one of the stockboys, Haft remarked that he was rather lame, and said to the lad, •• By G— — d, if you were my groom, I'd send you to for that." Bushrangers take great airs, these days, in the " distributed* districts.

A Real Mermaid.— On the coasts of Sumatra, (Sir Stamford Rafflss used to observe the species of sea cow called a " mermaid." The only similarity to the human female in this creature 'is in the position of the breasts, and the manner of nursing the young. The animal is tenderly attached to its offspring, and when they are removed, calls them with a loud continual moan, and sheds tears. There is surely here sufficient to account for the old fable of tli& mermaid and her semi-human ways.