MISADVENTURE ON THE TASMAN.

Timaru Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 1963, 26 December 1895, Page 4

MISADVENTURE ON THE TASMAN.

4* Mr A. Weir, traveller for Messrs Bulleid and Co., "amaru, had a narrow escape from drowning m one of the streams m the Mackenzie Country,, on the 17th December. He left Glentanner Station at 9 a.m., .for : Birch. Hill Station, where he met Mr John Ross, of Glentanner, and together they proceeded aa far as the Hermitage. They encountered a terrific thunderstorm, heavy rain and hail, and after staying three-quarters of an hour at the Hermitage, they started on the homeward journey. The heavy rain .caused all ,the creeks to rise very rapidly, the fall at the Hermitage registering 1£ inch. Birch Hill was reached at 4.30 p.m., and left again at 4.45 p.m., heavy rain still falling. .Here Mr Banks, engineer to the Mackenzie County Council, got a saddle horse from Mr Ross, preferring to ri.de home, and left his dogcart and horse with Mr Ross, who decided to drive to Glentanner. Both he and Mr Weir, . who was driving a buggy, then made a start together. They crossed Tm Hut creek safely, but on reaching Bush Creek they found that it was rolling down m torrents, the rolling of the boulders making a noise like thunder. After seeing that it was simply impossible to get across by any means, they decided to go back to Birch Hill station. On. arriving ait Tin Hut creek they found that it had risen, but not sufficient to cause alarm. Mr Weir being m the lead, entered the creek, but had no sooner got fairly into it than his horse went almost out of sight, and the violence of the water capsized the buggy, throwing Mr Weir into 'the boiling current. He stuck to the reins until he managed to get his horse's headupstieam. Finding that the trap was rolling very fast upon him, he struck out for down stream. After going down some distance he managed to get on to a spit, just m time to clear the horse and trap which landed on a spit some distance below. Owing to the horse never getting its head above water it was drowned before reaching the spit. Mr •Ross being opposite to where Mr Weir landed got the reins'of the horse m the dog cart and joining them together made several attempts to get a line across to Mr Weir, but finding it too short got the traces and kicking strap and joined ajl' together and again : made a number of attempts, but failed. Owing to the creek having risen fully three feet m a very short time Mr Weir decided to make for the nearest landing, which was on the opposite side to where Mr Ross was. After going into : the stream ihe was again carried some distance owing to the force of the current, which must have been running at the rate of riot less than 15 miles an hour. After managing to get a landing he decided to -go for assistance to Birch Hill. He proceeded as far as Boundary Creek onfobi, which is 2£ miles, and attempted to cross but owing to the stream running at a terrific rate, he fared badly, being carried down the stream half a mile, and received a severe knocking about, his legs being all colours with bruises from the boulders. He landed on the same side as he went m at owing to the current setting into that side. By the time he got out he was completely exhausted. It was now night, and after recovering he decided to keep moving till morning dawned to keep circulation going. He found his way back to where he had left Mr Ross. By daylight Mr Ross, after a number of attempts up and down stream, managed to get across on horseback to Mr Weir. The meeting was a welcome one. After waiting till midday they decided to make an effort to reach the station. After double banking across Tin Hut Creek, they put the horse into the dog cart and drove to Bush Creek. They found that the water had subsided considerably, but had left the bed of the creek m a most deplorable state. They decided to leave the dogcart at Bush Creek, and try and double bank oil horseback over Bush Creek to the -station. After a number pf attempts up and dtfwn stream they managed to get across, and found their way to the station by 4 p.m. The meal received from Mrs A. Ross on that occasion will never be forgotten,and too much praise cannot .be, given for her kind attention After Mr Weir had sufficiently recovered from the accident, he and Mr Ross proceeded to the scene of the accident. They found the buggy completely smashed up, and the horse some distance further down with the harness completely torn off, arid its off fore shoulder broken, which must have been done by the immense boulders rolling down the creek. They searched for any trace of Mr Weir's samples, but without success, as they must have beeii carried into the Tasman river. What was left of the buggy was carried to safe quarters, clear of the creek. Mr Weir's loss is very heavy,. as the horse was a valuable one, and he lost all he had with him, and he certainly Jiad a most narrow escape of his life.