.THE FATAL LANDSLIP AT JACKSON'S BAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 1832, 31 December 1886, Page 29

.THE FATAL LANDSLIP AT JACKSON'S BAY.

Hokitika, December 24.

From particulars to hand regarding the disastrous landslip at Jackson's Bay it appears that rain commenced to fall there on Saturday, the 4th, and with the exception of a few hours on Monday the incessant downpour contiuued till the following Thursday. At 9 o'clock on the night of the Bth the inmates of the houses were startled by a loud rumbling noise, followed by a roar as of rushing waters. A sudden rush of muddy water surrounded the houses, and the son of Mr Robinson, of the Royal' Hotel, aged 13 years, was carried away. Mr Robinson, accompanied by a boy, endeavoured to divert the flow into another channel, and while so engaged an enormous muss Was detached from the mountain side "■and rapidly advanced on them. Robinson tried to clutch hte son, but was himself knocked down,' while the boy was overwhelmed .%nd carried away. The body has not been recovered. At 3 o'clock on Thursday morning another avalanche of water and earth came down, overthrowing the fences and outhouses belonging to Mr Macfarlane, R.M., but did not carry away the house, the occupants of which were rescued with great difficulty. Shortly afterwards another terrific roar alarmed the watchers and showed them what appeared to be the mountain side moving slowly upon them. Thiß mass completely stove in Mr Macfarlane's house. Robinson's hotel suffered equally, the kitchen being buried. The dining room wall was broken down, and the piano hurled through the partition into ;the adjoining room. Robinson's garden and paddocks were covered to a depth of from 6ft to 40ft with trees, boulders, and mud. An attempt was made on Friday to clear away the mud, but v fresh mud flowed in as rapidly as the other was taken away. The damage is not confined to the township. The track on Arawata Flat is completely ruined by enormous slips. The slip is stated to have taken place suddenly, and as if a whole mountain side had leaped into the air and precipitated itself into the sea, causing it to surge up 30ft or 40ft Huge fissures have been cut into the mountain side, down which roaring torrents are pouring.

Messrs Johnson and Gowers' new reef at Johnson's Gully, Skippers Point, is showing some exceedingly rich stone, which from the specimens is estimated to go 12oz . to the ton As much as ldwt to the dish has been washed from the casing. The reef is situate only a 6hort distance from Skippers Point. -

Cushing and party, who receutly leffc the Bluff for the vicinity of Puysegur Point, Preservation Inlet, have returned, having lost the small vessel in which they embarked, and most of the stores. They did some work ashore, and are so well satisfied with the prospects that they intend to return.