LATER FROM OTAGO.

Southland Times, Volume 2, Issue 83, 21 August 1863, Page 2

LATER FROM OTAGO.

RUMORED FATAL ACCIDENT AT THE DUNSTAN. LOSS OF FORTY LIVES. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) DUNKDIN, Monday, 17 th Aug. Since my last communication, the new Provincial Council has met three times, but no progress has been made in the business of the Province. Nothing has even been inititiated, although co much requires to be done. There has been a long and rather warm discussion respecting the 'Ministry, and strong 'luubts expressed whether there is or is not a:i executive in existence. And here is how it comes about : The Dick ministry held office during the Superintendeutship of Major Richardson. Then came the election of a new Superintendent, and Judge Harris (by which title he has hitherto been designated), came into office. Of course, the newly elected Superintendent could not well get on without an executive, but the executive, by the Electoral Act, had ceased to exist — that is, to exist officially, but not ministerially — fur, somehow or other, but how I cannot say, nor can ministers &ay themselves, although not constituting an executive, they could retain office for thirty days after their functions ceased. To make things more complicated, the late Superintendent fMajor Richardson), is now Speaker to the present Council. So that when the policy of the Ministers is di : cussed under the old Superintendentship, Major Richardson's mouth is closed, because he is Speaker, and he must not speak without the House goes into a Committee of the whole, and as the House cannot always be doing this, there is much confusion consequent When the first meeting of the newly elected was held, the Dick Ministry resigned but retained office until their successors were appointed. Then the Superintendent not knowing who else to apply to, requested Mr Dick to form a ministry, and this was more than three-quarters done when it was found that the Superintendent was at such odds with Mr Dick on the land question, that it was impossible there could be any co-operation on so vital a question. So Mr E. B. Cargill was requested by His Honor to see what he could do to get a team together. Mr Cargill consented, and here is the result as seen by the precis taken from the Daily Times : — Mr E. 13. Cargill gave a detailed account of his negociations and failures. Mr Dick had promised to take a non-official post and then asked to be relieved. Messrs Paterson and Reynolds promised to hold their late positions. Mr J. L. Gillies would take the office of Public Works if no one else could be obtained ; but it had been accepted by Mr 11. J. Miller. Mr F. J. Moss and Mr A. W. Morris both declined to accept the fifth seat It was resolved temporarily to meet the Council without a fifth member ; but at the last moment, Mr Paterson declined to go on ; and hence his ("Mr Cargill's) resignation of the task." Viewing all things dispassionately in connection wi h our Provincial Council proceedings, the best that can be said of it is that " its all a muddle." Tuesday, 18th June. My pen is arrested by a most painful report. More than forty lives have been lost at the Dunstan, in the manner we occasionally read of as occurring m Alpine districts. The Daily Times says, on instituting inquiries: — "We were favoured by Mi* Branigan, Chief Commissioner of Police, with a copy of the following officcial communication :— • Halfway House, 16th August, 1863. 'Dunstan Escort. ; Sir, — I regret to report that when at the Deep Creek, on the lath instant, I was informed by a part}- of nine miners, whose names appear in the margin (John Tippings, Thomas Blair, Charles Cleric, Samuel Harris, George Bonham, — James, Hubert Bligh, James Abercrombie ), that an accident of a fearful and most melancholy nature took place at the head of the Serpentine Gully, situated ten miles from the Black Ball Hotel, the particulars of which are as follow :— John Tippings and his mates, together with some forty miners, were working in a small gully at the head of the Serpentine. Their tents were pitched immediately un ier a huge cliff or bank. On the morning of the 14th instant, an immense snow-drift, which had formed on the top of the cliff, fell upon the tents, completely covering all oi them. Tipping's tent being situate*! further from the cliff than those of the others, he and his mates, after gr*at difficulty, managed to effect their escape. After several vain attempts to rescue the unfortunate inmates of the other tents, who they state are covered with some. 40 or 50 feet of snow, they were obliged to ) desist. When the arrived at the Deep Creek some seven miles from the Serpentine, two of. their number were terribly prostrated. I have, also to report tliut 1 left Constable Finnlgau

;■ at the jijj3perv|Taierr Station witkffl -to protee^iwitHout 'delay to the Jft accid|nl|ana %und the jJH the minerst Jcpn^^upou finding 'tpdiesV-tol cotnffiuincate imme|§| Mj^BaUeyvtSi^|ia^ the honotj|| Percy, sS St. Johnj^Bpnigan, Esq., Conl|l Police, Duueain..'" nj " r " The S.S.S: Auckland, iwrivJß Northern ports late last night. -||| ,l^ft!f:hie^ryJe^ter3a^*-i6r''/Tar,'in^ hundred .volunteers. They leltgS spirits," and foir two hours before il departure drove' through the toffi rpaniedjbyiaiMiidrofiiiiusic, platai .tunes. , „.,■ m X The brings this c<dij and will take away your EngUsljS has scarcely been twenty four hJ| from the^tiineshe dropped anci^ morning' .until she steams awajßf noon.! . '-' ...''.,..,,' '? n| From , the Hpgburn diggings t]J| continues most cheering, and thegejM by those capable of forming one Uts| burn will^turn out the best goffl known to the Province. From 11 we have better news. The riveri^ the. hard* frosts -which" prevail H§| sources which;haye fed the Moljw ruin of many hundreds of d'iSi Duns tan storekeepers are loud iil|| plaints at the badness of businesji§ Ifeari will.be compelled to suc||| severe pressure of the timesj|| Dunedin is beginning to revive. ||| a good spring and summer busli the bad weather is passing aw|i| for forwarding supplies may be ||| as being very near at hand. ||| RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S Friday, 14th Atjgu||| (Before M. Price, Esq.,||t| Drunk. — George M'Evoy, and Gpl were fined ss. each for this offence, W^ Dkitihg Without Heiks.— mfc. brought up under this charge wasMge SLY GROG CASEslft T. HRMMINCT'IY — VICTORIA;^ Mr Macdonald, Provincial Solicit^ the Crown, and Mr South for the plea was— Not Guilty. ||| John Duncan, examined by 3[i:|| describing himself as formerly a b|g| keeper, said that he knew the defe||| had called at his house; he wislied||| memorandum book as to the date. |^ The Court refused unless it cot'£|| that the mems. were made within tl§|| Mr M»cdonald said that if he ||| action through the non-production ||| he would appeal. pi Witness said that he saw Tbon)as|S on the 3rd August ; he kept the Y||| Dee-street ; witness had been th'ere^ sions ; the first occasion was the 3H| had then purchased drink there, viz.p§: brandy and oue glass wine ; he l||| the drink from Hemihingway; ||^ it with a five sliilling -piece nnd j§ij change ; the brandy was taken f'roni|J| which was brought from a shelf at tcf^ counter; this was about- one or two|f| mediately on leaving the store, say 15i| afterwards he mad 1 ) a memoranduii||* action in the street; he thought fe was not licenced. W Cross-examined by Mr South : T^ chased the spirits, &c, was a Satufig so — no, i*. was not a Saturday, it wi£|| I have no calling at present ; of m;fj| have laid these informations ; I ban m five months in this province; IcsejJ mnnia. m Mr South : How did you get there IS Mr Macdonald objected to this qi S Court, however, ruled in Mr South 1 ! | Witness would not undertake tc | came out to Tasmania in a ship; k § he was born there. || Mr South asked if he did not co !l cargill with another man's wife. s The Court objected to the questiu j| Witness : I never stated to Air IT i wns married ; I expect to be paid ft § time by the government ; the pure! i took place on the 3rd ; there were foil sides himself; Robert Onn was incoi^ Mr South: Oh, he was o» wfli j||| Witness . I will swear that what i;|| was pale brandy; I only drank one 11 Owen had also a glass of brandj,|| had sherry; I tossed off the whole dm brandy ; it was about five o'clock ii|| when" I left off going about for vijß poses ; before one o'clock I might hawis or four glasses of brandy ; I have refe mise of payment, but expect to gei|| penalty. fe By the Court : I purchased the gr(^| the 3rd August; I swear that tk^ now shown me )a correct; I again sbm purchase was on or about the 3rd Au||| will allow me, I — f§j ]lis Worship : No, I won't allow j||| staud down. fe Mr South applied .to have Dp|| randum book impounded, as he »ni»yp ing his memory between "the cases. pi| Ki3 Worship said that he couli^ policeman to search the witness «!g;J stas;e of the proceedings. [|| By Mr Macdonald : Robert Onn||g knew the defendant and his pren||| street; he could not say whether S were called the Victoria store; hca those premises ; he was there, he b||| i about the 3rd August ; he saw Mr I||| ' there, Duncan and some others rfms He corroborated the evidence of D^ that the brandy was poured from albi John Hare, Clerk of the Court, ss||| dant's name was not in the list of |^ licenses, and that no certificate haif^! to him. m§ Mr South then addressed the Cov^M that the evidence of informers wo *£m be received by the Court, in its ei||| great caution. There was no case;||| Duncan had said that he was notS the purchase was on the 3rd Augus||| or about the 3rd ; secondly.be hadj|| it was on Saturday, then a Tuesday,jffl| out to be really a Monday (laughterJßj because Duucan could not have be(||| time, having taken a large quatity o||| His Worship: It's astonishing^ of glasses some men can take. (Lj|| would, in this case, reserve judgmet^ Edward Moeak. fig Mr Macdonald for the Crown; Mr^ft defence. The informers' deposed t£j? chased irom the defendant, at 1 he Jfjt} glasses of brandy, two of whisky^ wine. Judgment reserved. A. Gr. PuiLTSG i. j Mr Macdonald for the Crown-k deposed to having purchased at d(^ mises, two glasses brandy. Judgny« William Wilk]>-o^|J Mr Macdonald for the Crown ij^ the defence. The infor.ner deposed^ chased from the defendant at the M|| rant, on the first August, three gla^S The hearing of this case was interru^ plausc, whenever the Counsel (o/l launched out into Philippics upon • the " mean, rascally, &c." nature of '■ occupation. Judgment reserved. P. FIKXIGAI). Mr Macdonald for the Crown. the defence. Informers deposed t chased three nobblers of brandy froiJ . on the Ist August; at the Prosf House. Mr Weston made ama ter was complimented by hia Wor hipv^ sion of his address Judgmenl restf fZ S.:Cpsack. y,, Mr Macdonald for the Crown J <■* the defence. The informers dep^ , purchased one glass brandy and <* from the,, defendant at his premi* July. Judgment reserved. * Satubdax, August I' The hearings in thesly-grog case* K continued. The complexion of th* considerable similarity to that of "^ onßly tried. Moitdat, 17th Augp " Police Caskb. — Two drunk * breach of the ."peace, and another w, mation of Detective Thomson of * possum rugi made up this day's cale> Civil Cases;— Watson v Bethum,* Broad v Hamilton, no appearancf Gracio and VVatson, claim and vcrn» Williams per Attorney Mr M>«£ nonsuited. Miller and Co. v 31ol>