RIVERTON.

Otago Witness, Issue 1897, 12 June 1890, Page 18

RIVERTON.

Eetubn of the muttow-birders.—The Kakanui with the Natives from the Mutton Bird Islands put in an appearance yesterday afternoon. The weather on the coast having been exceptionally severe since she left port, it was but natural that anxiety was felt at her long absence, and the announcement made yesterday mornfng that the steamer had safely arrived in Colac Bay caused a feeling of intense relief. The fears for the safety of the Kakanui wag so great indeed that preparations were being made for the despatch of a steamer from the Bluff to prooure tidings of her whereabouts. The Kakanui in verity had a rough knocking about since she left Biverton on the 26th ult. A succession of heavy gales was met with, and in the tempestuous weather the work of embarking the Natives and their belongingß was not only attended with difficulty, but with much danger. The steamer had constantly to run for shelter, and the last fortnight is not likely to be forgotten by any who were during the time on board the boat. Provisions ran short, and for about the last week the chief sustenance of the crew and passengers has been mutton birds, together with the fish and woodhens caught while the vessel was interraittingly lying at Kasy harbour, Stewart Island. On Thursday, having embarked all the Natives, with the exception of a party of four at South Point, Long Island—who could have been taken onboard themselves, but who refused to como away without their birds- CapWn Best decided to make a start for Klverton. This decision was come to as the Natives had no proper food and the ship was quite out of provisions. A startwaß made at I p.m., the weather at the time being very bad; an increasing gale with heavy breaking sea. On the Thursday night tbe steamer put into Patcrson's Inlet, having experienced a ereat tossing about from the time she loft Long Island. Wheu abreast Lord's river she shipped a heavy sea which filled the decks and cabin and made everything wet and miserable. During the height of the storm, Mrs Fisher, of Colao Bay, was delivered of a child, and we are glad to be able to state that both the mother and the baby are doing welt. The Natives all through the tr> ing time behaved splendidly, and they speak in glowing terms of the kind treatment they received on board the steamer. The mutton biid season has been the best for many years past, and the excursionists, n- twithstanding the buffeting and hardships of the past fortnight, all come back in the best of health and spirits. Altogether the takings of the party -about 70 adults besides some children — will not be far short of 100,000 birds.—Western Star.