CAMBRIANS. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Otago Witness, Issue 1488, 22 May 1880, Page 13

CAMBRIANS. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

May 11th. In my last letter I omitted mentioning that Mr Leece, Wesleyan missionary, had left this district, having received an appointment in New South Wales. Our School Committee have put in force the compulsory clause of the Education Act.

Accidonts have been rather f requont of late in this district, and, I am sorry to say, in one instance fatally. The latter, although occurring at some distance from here, I may bo permitted to mention. In the Blue Mountain Company's claim, at Tinkers, a fall of earth uame in, by which a young man named Smith lost; his life, and another, named Trecwick, had one leg broken in two placed. This is the second fatal accident that has occurred in that claim within a short time, besides minor onos ; so that the Blue Duck, as it is locally termed, is now about as notorious for danger to life and limb as it is for large returns. One of the. Tinkers residents, also, got thrown from his horse be tween Tinkers and Blacks and severely hurt. Also, a young man driving a team for Mr J. D. Feraud gofe thrown out of the vehicle) and severely cut about the head ; both, however, have recovered. Coming closer homo, on the 12th inst. Michael Haley, employed as carter by Mr J. M. Jones, of this place, while on tho return journey from St. Bathans was thrown out of his dray. He was picked up in an almost insensible condition by some waggoners and brought on here. As his injuries were internally, some douU was entertained as to tho ultimate result ; but Dr Sluinan'B assistance being obtained on tho following day, he ia now recovering quickly from the effects of the accident. Dr Sluman happened to bo in St. Bathans on that day, as he had been telegraphed for to attend John M'Connochie, a young man in the employment of Messrs Keenati and Morgan, butchers, who had cut off the thumb of his right hand with a sausagemachine. A little boy, son of Mr John Thurlow, o Yincgar Hill, got his wrist dislocated on Saturdaylast. It seems that the little fellow, with an elder brother, was on horseback, and attempting to lump a tail-race the horse failed to reach tho opposite Dank: properly, the result being a "spill," when tho younger was hurt as above stated.

The weather has been cold and stormy lately. A considerable amount of rain has fallen, and snow at greater altitudes, so that the Dunstan Range is slightly covered with snow nearly down to the snow-line ; and, situated as we aro at tho foot of this rango, with Mount St. Bathans and tho Hawkdun Range in the distance clothed in snowy mantle, our surroundings are decidedly wintry, and when cold westerly winds sweep over the snowy mountains and come down upon us in bitter gusts it is cold enough for midwinter.