THE SHOTOVER.

Southland Times, Volume 2, Issue 80, 11 August 1863, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE SHOTOVER.

(From the Correspondent of the Wqkatip V Mail.) ■ r Maori Point, July 28. Since my last communication I have received the' following startling intelligence of a most frightful accident or caiastrophe having occurred on the ir-oniing of 1 he 26th ( ult., in a small gully at the Sandhills., about eight miles from here, by which twelve men were smothered, and several others severely bruised. The cause assigned for this dreadful accident was that during the preceding night a heavy landslip had formed a complete dam in a small creek in the centre of the gully, and after a considerable time hurst, crushing and cairying everything before it, smothering some of the unfortunate victims who were inmates of, and destroying-, ;i camp comprising in ail five huts, in one of which were fifteen men who had taken refuse from the pitiless storm during- that night. Three of those were extracted alive, and ten dead ; another two are yet missing. Two men in one of ihe other huts were likewise severely injured, but they are expected to survive. July 30. I attended an inquest, held on the 28th ult. by Mr Warden Williamson, on the bodies of the deceased miners at the Hanuhills. A post mortem examination was made by l->r Combe on one of the bodies, and a verdict was returned of death by suffocation. Intelligence has just reached here, which I regret to say has been authenticated, of another fearful catastrophe and loss of human life. Eleven more fellow creatures hare been hurled into eternity. On Sunday at twelve p.m., about four miles above Arihiu's Point, on the opposite side of the Shotover and about two miles below Moke Creek, a heavy landslip occurred, forming a complete, dam across the river, which impeded the lieavy rush of the current for five or ten seconds. Situated underneath, or ciose to the rider, were two huts in one of which were ten men, two of whom wore invalids. On the first action of the landslip two of the men carried one of the invalids to another hut, and whilst they were preparing a stretcher for the other, the heavy force of the landslip look 2>lace. which completely smothered the remaining seven men and hut. In the hut where five men, one of whom most miraculously escaped, hut the other four shared the sune sad fate us their companions. It is repotted here that some new ground has been opened on a terrace adjacent to Wilson's Beach, which I hear is of a most promising nature ; but I do not wish to mislead parlies by inducing them to come up to a place wliere I cannot vouch for the truth of ttie report, more especially when the provisions are so high, and the weather sc inclement. Strange as it may appear were the river and ifs tributaries once more at their medium, parties are most confident of their ultimate success. Do the Government ever intend to erect any bridges in this locality, for there has been no mean* of oomamniotaion for the last live or six days at Packer's Point, whence all the population from Skipper's Creek and the west side of the Shotover hare to derive all their supply of butcher's . meal, &.c. The width of the river at this particular place i<fro:n 30 to 40 feet. The erection of a substantial wooden bridge capable of carrying foot passengers and pack horses would not cost <ibove £100. The miners purpose petitioning the Government for a grant, for this purpose. I regret to n<\i\ that portions of the new bridle track from Arthur's Point to here have given way by the late floods.