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Western Star, Issue 125, 29 January 1876, Page 4

Another sad accident has been added to the already long list of casualties which have occurred in that most neglected and isolated district, Orepuld. A youth of 15, named Clarence Hogg, while amusing himself at school performing some gymnastic feat, strained himself so severely that he was compelled to take to his bed for a day or two ; bnt, iff consequence of there being no possibility, for want of any means of communication, of procuring medical assistance in titpe to afford him any relief, he had to be conveyed to Riverton on a stretcher on the shoulders of a number of willing miners, who, always regardless of any loss or inconvenience to themselves when the life of a human being is at stake, kindly volunteered their services for the journey. Before the party reached Colne Bry it was found that the unfortunate lad, who had been in acute agony during the journey, was at length relieved from his sufferings, and that another soul had taken its departure for “That bourne from which no traveller returns.” Now there is pvery reason to believe that, had medical attendance" been procurable, young Hogg’s life might have been saved, and a promising young colonist spared to the district. It would be a hopeless task for us to predict at what date there is likely to be any communication between Riverton and Orepuld except by a dangerous journey in an open boat, or over a rough bush track. Certainly, there is a railway under construction to Roundhill ; hut, owing to continued disagreements between the Government and the contractor, the time of its completion appears so very renaote that it is almost out of the question to think of it (as a means of transit. But we think the district is perfectly justified in asking that something in the shape of a road be provided, which would, at least, be a temporary means of communication, and serve the purposes of the district until these railways, of which there has been so much delay in construction, are completed.