NEVIS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2579, 19 August 1903, Page 35

NEVIS.

August 1-J. — Our httlo community has been thrown into great excitement by a series of disasters. On the last day of July Mr George Renshaw armed at the Upper Nevis from Garston, havin» walked from the latter place alone through the snow in a. very badly fiost-

bitten condition. He is still lying at Mr Elliot's pending his removal to the Cromwell Hospital. Dr Morris has seen him, and reports rather dubiously of his condition.' Mr Renshaw took 22 hours to do the journey, and arrived at Mr Bailey's iv quite an exhausted state, and was carried by relays of men to Mrs Elliot's two days afterwards, almost tho whole male population taking spell about with tho burden, as it was quite impossible tc get a conveyance to bring him down owing to the snow. It is feared Mr Renshaw will lose most of one foot and all the toes from the other. It is a marvel how ho persevered through the journey, as he left Garston at half-past 9 in the forenoon and reached> Bailey's at half-past 7 the following morning. Very great sympathy is felt for the family and for him aleo Avalanches. — The thaw which commenced here on Tuesday continued, accompanied by warm showers of rain, during Wednesday and that night, and caused a sudden 'break away of the large packs of ice, both in the big streams and the river, and it, owing to the heavy frosty must have been in most places Sin to lft thick. Coming down in large sections, crushing and piling up in vast masses, and then breaking away suddenly, the ice have caused two very serious misfortunes — namely, sinking the Remarkables dredge, and the carrying away of the foot and pack bridge over the Nevis River at the Nevis Crossing. What we shall do during the spring freshes without a bridge, a boat, or a chair Ido not know ; but we ara "hopirg the Vincent County Council will come to our relief promptly, as there are no means of crossing, and even the ford for wheeled vehicles i 3 none too safe. Sbeep and Cattle. — The thaw otherwise has been a great boon, especially to all stockowners. Most of the sheep and .cattle on the east side of the valley have had grass, but the western slopes and terraces have been as white as a snowball. The flats on the west side of the river have been almost without a single tussock till early this week; but since the thaw set in grass is coming from under the snow as green as a leek. The M'Kenzie country at Upper Nevis has noC been £O badly covered as was feared, their sheep are, it is said, looking not bad at all considering they were new to the country. Coming Back. — One and another of the migratory folk are returning after their holiday, and they don't seem to have fared much better than thoso who stayed at homo. You do not hear much from them, unless it ia about " the beastly weather." Dredging.— lt is reported that 'Mr King, of Alexandra, has been appointed dredgemaster of the Nos. 1 and 2 crews and dredges.