(From Our Own Correspondents.) LAKE COUNTY.

Otago Witness, Issue 1795, 17 April 1886, Page 12

(From Our Own Correspondents.) LAKE COUNTY.

April 12. — The sensation of the week has been, as may easily be imagined, the misbing West Coast party, Messrs Dewar and Keith, and their ultimate restoration to the world and their friends. It appears that Mr Dewar set out for Martin's Bay with a special mail which the Postal Department was anxious should be forwarded- without further delay. Meeting with Donald Keith, a shepherd for a number of years in this district, and who was therefore well qualified for such an excursion, an agreement was arrived ;at{bet ween them, and a start made on the 4th< of last month. The party was rather heavily- loaded, Dewar carrying a swag of 401b, and Keith about 701b, in either case too much for a lengthy journey over rough country. All, however, went well for the first four days. The weather was delightful, and although the track was lost more thau once, as was only to be expected, the party after reaching the bottom of the Hollyford Valley soon came on to the Greenstone track — they having taken the Lake Harris route from Kinloch as the (shortest and most interesting, though perhaps not the easiest. On the fifth day rain came on, and poured down very heavily. When the Hidden Falls Crook was reached it was in high flood, and three days had to be spent in waiting before the crossing could be effected. This delay reduced the tucker to a few scones, a tin of salt, another of pepper, and a pinch of tea. While shooting at some kakas, Donald lost tho nipple pf their gun, and an hour was spent in an ineffectual search for it, during which the three dogs which had accompanied the party helped themselves to the scones. Rain continued to pour down without mercy and game became scarce ; the caeeks all rose to torrents, aud crossing them became difficult ; and in the weakened state of the men, dangerous. Keith's advice, to rise to a height on the range to above timber level, in order to obtain easier travelling, and to take the creek crossings where they were not so dangerous, was adopted. But the weight of the saturated swags and clothes — which must have nearly doubled by this time — together^-with the almost superhuman exertion of scrambling up the range, through the dense bush and undergrowth, told on Donaltli* His legs began to givo^way, and ultimately refused to carry their weight. His hearing, sight, and speech became affected, aud it was clear that he could reach neither end of the journey in his then condition. The only plan open, therefore, was to work their way down again into the valley, and camp close to the track till some chance traveller passed that way and rendered assistance. After great hardships and trouble, the junction of the Lake Harris and Green • stone tracks was reached. Here there is a " footer," raised some sft above the ground. At this time a singular coincident occurred. Only a very short time before — probably not" more than half an hour — Mr Webb, an old settler at Martiu's Bay, passed on his way to QueensI town and left at the " footer " a billy filled with toast, and some pills for his own use on his return •journey, as he did not feel well. When Dewar and Keith arrived at the " footer " they found a godsend in the shape of some provender, which, as may be expected, was highly relished, they having subsisted for 1(3 days exclusively upen birds caught under considerable difficulty, as the dogs declined to hunt on their own account . i In this respf.ct, too, there was now an improvement. Mr Webb's dog, a splendid f erreter out of ground game, had deserted his master, and joining the dogs of the excursionists, now kept them in plenty of game. The troubles of the party were now fast approaching their culminating point. Messrs Butement and Henderson, students of the Dunedin School of Mines, who were out on an expedition, reached the " footer," and, wjthsome oatmeal, revived Donald, who by this time was really very bad ; and shortly afterwards Mr Webb, having met Messrs Wilson and Rogers, one of the search parties in quest of the missing postmaster and his companion, and learning from them the object of their mission, returned with them to the ".footer." A few days later Constable Young and Mr M'Kenzie, the other search party, who had taken the Greenstone track, also put in an appearance at the " footer," and all further anxiety was at an end. Donald, however, still being unable to walk, Rogers and Wilson were told off as nurses, while tho rest of the parties returned to Queenstown, where they arrived per . Mountaineer steamer on Wednesday afternoon last. Mr Dewar is deserving of much commendation for having stuck to his-companion-in-arms under such trying circumstances and conditions. It must also be remembered that the anxiety he was giving his wife, his family, and his friends, who expected him back at the latest at the end of 16 days, must have weighed much with him, as well as his trouble about the undelivered mail ; and it cannot be denied that under the circumstances he displayed what is nothing short of heroism in sticking to his mate for about 16 dreary days almost withoutany pro* visions. Without wishing in any way to detract from the credit due to all the other parties who distinguished themselves by pluck and voluntnrily undertaking the hardships and privations of a search party, Mr Webb is deserving of special mention. In every mishap and every trouble in which West Coast travellers in their journeys to Martin's Bay have been involved Mr Webb has been foremost in rendering every aid in his power in the most disinterested manner. In these efforts he has always been ably assisted by Mrs Webb, whose kindness and readiness to aid him in his praiseworthy endeavours hag more than once been brought under public notice by travellers who have experienced her hospitality. Donald, although progressing as well as can be expected, will probably not be

able to leave his present camp for several weeks, and will then be taken on to Martin's Bay, as the easiest way out of the Hollyford valley, thence taking the steamer for Invercargill or Dunedin.