HOKITIKA.

Otago Witness, Issue 846, 15 February 1868, Page 6

HOKITIKA.

At Hokitika, apparently, the gale was very severe, but was not accompanied by heavy rain, or any serious flood in the river. There was sortie loss of life, however, and it is possible that further accounts will bring news of other disasters. The West Coast Times of the 4th instant states :—: —

One of the heaviest wind storms that ever visited Holritika swept down fiom the mountains yesterday, and raged furiously until sunset, filling the streets with clouds of dusfc and fine gravel, to the intense discomfort and misery of those "whose "business compelled them to be abroad, and causing not a little damage to the frail-built edifices which abound in the town. Several houses were partially unroofed, sign-boards and chimneys were laid low, -whilst the suburban residents were exposed to imminent danger by falling timber, as many large trees "were torn up by the roots and thrown in perilous proximity to tents and cottages. Only one accident within the boundaries of the township has come to our knowledge, and that occurred in the vicinity of the Haii-hau Tramway, at a short distance only from the Round • Tower of Ireland Hotel, and all but. resulted in the death, of a Mrs Kearns and her child. Their escape was truly providential, as a large tree fell upon and completely destroyed the cottage in which they resided; but most fortunately missed the woman and ichild, both of whom escaped with a few alight contusions inflicted by the falling

I xafte^^-S^iear^ fgale., (Werj^e^ere^y ,f6lt iu^he^-copiitEv, , districts, fasf 'as ;?«. aocoiiint pi jose; dreadiul accident has' reached, to^n, and- ; it'is'jbnly' prpbajije will £c. followed .bj others."'' iii the afternoon, a police-' 1 man arrived^ town post haste" from jilie Eighi'JJiile' diggings, (Woodstock),, ' and reported that a large tree had been blown across the, Victoria Hotel, there, killing the proprietor, ..,Mr. Robert, ITurness, dead upon the spot, and so injuring, his wife „ that her • life is despaired of. It seems that the unfortunate couple danger, and were in the. act. of leaving the hotel when the tree .fell, totally destroying the building, and one of the branches crushed down the man and wife just as they crossed the threshold. They were imme-' diately released, but the man was found dead o$ a broken back, whilst the woman was frightfully contused and quite insensible. From the accounts that reach us from the Hospital, of the condition of his unfortunate widow, there is too much reason to fear that the five young children of the family will be left helpless orphans. An inquest will be held to-day at noon.