SEARCH PARTY TO MOUNT BURSTER.

Otago Witness, Volume 11, Issue 2159, 11 July 1895, Page 21

SEARCH PARTY TO MOUNT BURSTER.

(Fhom a Mount Ida Cokbespondent.) A search party volunteered to go to look for Healey brothers, who were suppoFed to have perished in the snow six miles from Blacks diggings, Monnt Burster. The party who volunteered to go on this perilous expedition consisted of members of the mining community, their number bsing 22, with Mr W. Guffia as their guide and leader. A start wat made from N»seby on Tuesday morning, July 2, at half-pant 7, arriving at Mr J. Brown's, at the foot of Mount Burster, a distance of nine milrs, at 11 am. After lunch they sbarted to climb Mount Burster at 12 o'clock noon. Ooe of the party, who had enjoyed the lunch at Mr Brown's by partaking of it too freely, on getting a mile on the journey was compelled to throw up the sponge and retrace his steps, arriving safely at Mr Brown's at 4 p m. During our march to the top of Mount Burster, a few remark* as to how we go 1 ; on may not be out of place. We marched in single file. The leader would fall out of line ab ut every three minutes on to the rear, which helped him by way of spells. In my opinion the larger the party the better. It is not altogether beer and •kitMes to faca Mount Burster in enow from 4ft to sft df ep, not counting drifts, each individual laden with his blankets and some provisions. After getting about a mile from Clarke's we discerned some black objects moving iouth-west at a distance of about two miles, our coarse being due north. After sounding a bugle and

bringing a field glass into operation, we foun4 our lonel/* companions to be two mobs of sheep. After satin fy ing onrselves with a drop of •'mountain dew" we make for Clarke's, arriving there at half-past 3 p.m., all well, after comiog a distance of three miles and a-half in three hours and a-half. We held a meeting the same night to decide on the plan of campaign on Wednesday (3rd). After a praotioal disoussion it was moved that a party of 12 should be selected to go the following morning to wfcere Healey brothers' camp was supposed to be, a distance of about lix miles north-west from Clarke's, whioh is dae north from Mr J. Brown's, at the foot of Mount Burster. A*Vr their arrival at Henley's camp, if not successful, six of the party were to go to Green Gully hut, which is three miles further to the north-east of Hualey's camp, and stop there for the night, the other six coming back to Clarke's by the way of Third Gully, being about four miles east from Healey's and three miles from Clarke's. The otbev eight wore to go back to the foot of Mount Burster for provisions, and come on the same day to meet the Third Gully party. On Wednesday morning both parties were oil the march at 7 sharp — 12 going to Henley* camp, the other 8 for pro-visions. After going some distance the wind came up very strong from the south-west with heavy fog and snow drift. After consultation both parties retreated back to camp, which proved to be a wiso plan. At 12 noon the wind moderated, and Mr Guffie and four of the arty went down to Mr J. Brown's, Gillie going on to Naseby, the other four returning to Clarke's with some provisions, and auoihar volunteer on ihe following day, Thursday, tha ' <Uh, after a severe contest against wind anxf «*-ather, arriving at 3 p.m all safe. On Friday, the sth, strong south-west wind * .vuh heavy drifts and snow were experience" 3 ? 1 " ■md the party were not able to go out of camp, aviug to content ourselves with hopes ef bettor weather. ' *S The following morning, Saturday, the 6th, 12 men left for Hesley's camp, seven others going down to the foot of Mount Burster for provisions, leaving Clarke's at half-past 8 >»..m. The provision party oame back to Clanke'- with six more volunteers at half-pact 3 ».u>. Alter having some refreshments the party began to get ready to go to meet the contingent that had gone out to He4ey's or otherwise put up signals. The bugle was ordered to sound, when three British cheers greeted us, being the reply through the dense fog with south-wesb wind and heavy drift. The bugler kept suunding the bugle, and ultimately both parties met with tidings of great joy, the Haaley brother* being with them. Two men were kept at oamp always to have tea and refreshments ready. A word or two as to how tha Healey brothers were fonnd may be of interest. They bad five doge, which started to bark, and the search parly hearing the dogs followed the iouud, and to their surprise fouud the three brothers well, with enough tucker for two months. They were out of firewood, however, and it was impossible for them ever to get out without the ' aid of the strong parties that went for them. I may also give a few details as to the volunteers. They were true Britishers and meant to stick out until they tound the H'jaleys, dead or alive— the latter being their hope, and I am happy to s*y their wishe* were realised. All the people of Nnaetiy did their beßt in providing provisions foreea-ch parties. Mr and Mrs J. Brown are deseiyng of the thanks of the public for -their kindu^sa and gftnerosity, and fo? the sympathy they extended to the nun reh expedition by accommodating parties to and from Mount Buraki". On Saturday night 30 man all told held a concert, at which some good singing wa« indulged in, together with a wee drap o' Auld Reekie. Some jo -ular remarks were made to the cff. cb that Mount Burster would be a grand place for distilling whisky, f©r there would be very lufcle fear of the Police department ever coming up to chose high regions after illicit stills wheii they didu'o show up in the search for the Healey brothers. On Sunday, the 7 oh, all hands mustered at 8 a.m., the roll beiDg called, and all answeriog to their names, after which a start wai» made for Naseby in a heavy fog, arriving at that town all safe at 3 p.m. This incident should be a warning to those who camp out in higtt altitudes. _____». LAND BOAKD., The ordinary meeting of the Land Board, held yesterday, was attended by Messrs J. P. Maitland (chairman), Dallas, Clark, M'Kerrow, and Duncan. Kunow —The Stock department's application that rive acres in the south end of the town of Kurow be reserved for the use of the department wa* granted. Waipori.— Mr Robert Cotton applied for a graziDg license over section* 13. 14. 16 to 19, blwck IV, Waipori. formerly held by him under perpetual ' lease.— Consideration defened for ranker s rep >rt. Payment of Arrears.— The Receiver of L.md Revenue reported that Mr J. Creighton had paid all arrears on his deferred payment license 6141, which had b*en de/.larrd forfeited — Resolution or May 2 rescinded in so far as it applied to hense named. Blackstone.— Mr William Mai shall applied for the right to occupy section 23 block XIII. BlacKstone.—Kef«rred to Ranuer Fraser for a report. Wakbfield.— Mr Robert Davidson applied for a licer.se to occupy parts of sections 9 ana IV, block IV, Wakefield. mL Non-compliance of Conditions.— The ca«es of the following village homestead _ allotment selectors, who were given one «. onth in whicn to show caus* whjSstkcir boldii gs should not be forfeited for non-cmpliance with residence conditions, were considered:— James Ryan, section 10, block XVI, Maniototo ; T. Ryan, section 14, block XVI, Maniototo; Edward Ryan, section-15 block XVI, ManiototO ; P. Ryan (juo.), sect on 11, block XVI, Maniototo.— lt was decided to inform lessees that unless they immediately comply with the re-idtjnee conditions of the leases they would be forfeited without further notice The lease of Robert Chirnside. who held section 28, block XVI, Maniototo, was forfeited for non-compliance wita resilence conditions, the section to bo re-openea as forineily Greenvale.— Ranger Fraser reported upon lection 2, block XIII, Ureenvale (minim: reserve).— License' was granted to W. AbiMm under section 116 of the act over touthern porfon of the "serve at 9d per acre, and over northern half to A. Ihomson on same terms. Rock a-<d Pillar.— The board were requested to determine as to how section 16, block VI, Rock and Pillar, should be dealt with.— lt was decided that Owen Laverty should be allowed to acquire icction 16 on lease in perpetuity, capital value 20s per acre. Application to Surrender.— Mr T. Cbalmer, on behalf of Mrs Marjorie Hay, applied to be allowed to surrender srna'l grazing run lease over section 12, block XII, Rock and Pillar.— lhe Governor to be recommended to authorise Commissioner of Crown Lands to accept surrender of lease, the rent of Is 6d per acre being, in the opinion of the board, excessive, therefore rendering it impossible for the run to be occupied without serious loss. The board, in the case of surrender being accepted, would recommend that a license under section 219 of the act should be t routed for three years from March 1 last at a reuced rental. ■ Maniototo.— The Chief Surveyor forwarded a plan of subdivision of village reserve in block XI, Maniototo, and the board were requested to de^ termine as to how sections 22 to 65, containing

• from one to 12 acres, should be dealt Vith.—Sections 23 to 35 inclusive recommended to be Bet • apart and opened as village homestead allotments at a capital valuo of 253 per acre, flf ra Jane Paterson to be allowed to acquire section 22 on lcate in perpetuity at a capital value of 25s per acre ; remainder of surveys not to be dealt wiih in tho meantime. Applications.— Applications as under were approved : — For small giazing run : Margaret Crano, section 2(5, block I If, Maoiototo; Robert Ferguson, section 27, block 111, Maniototo. For subdivision tnd transfer of area held on lease in perpetuity : Sydney Barrak to Philip Stapl ton and Connor Meenan (jointly) half of section 23, block VJII, Catlins. To complete deferred payment : Alexander M'Kay, te. tion 3, block XIH, Giouival«; A. Whitely, sections 13 and 15, block VT, liudle. An apphca'ion by Annie GaTry for exemption from residence upon village homestead allotment section 47. block IV, Greenvale, was referred to the ranger for a report M< unt Hyde —Mr D M. M'Donald anyjied to have the rent reduced of tection 27, block IV, Mount Hyde, on account of land taK-nfor railway purpr sea. - Area reduced by 19a 2r 9p, and rent reduce^ by 12s. Akatore —Mr Mitchell Park eppliert for a Coal lease ou parts of sections 23 ond 24, block T, Akatore. — Granted for 21 years at aunual rental of 3s per acre, and Cd per ton royalty. Dunback. — An application by Mr David Ross to be allowed to surrender small grazing run lease over section 6, block Vf IT, Dunback district, was ordered to be forwarded for consideration of Minister. ' T.EANER4.KI. — Village eettlement allotments Nos. 3 and 4, Teaneraki, were forfeited for noncompliance with residence conditions. Lots to be reoffcred as formerly.