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Grey River Argus, Issue 117, 11 October 1866, Page 3

Turning a River,— The Manuherikia river, near the crossing place to Bracks, will be turned from its course in a very short space of time. A large company has set to work cutting a new channel for it, at the lower side of I^ee's arable lan.d, and the dajn will not require more than a fortnight or three weeks to ' construct. The river-bed is known to be auriferous, and the undertaking is likely to be of considerable profit to be of considerable profit to all concerned. — '• Dunstan Times." A Man Killed by a Shell Fired Two Years Ago.— The Tauranga correspondent of the " Southern Cross" writes :— -" On Friday last, the 6th ult., a man .named Henry Mathews, a "private of No. 5 .Company of the Ist Waikato Regiment, was killed by the explosion of a shell at the site of the Gate Pa. It seems that a bugler of deceased's company had a fowling-piece, and he and Mathews were anxious to get powder to shoot ducks with, Mathews determined to open one of the 100 lb. shells winch were lying about, although he was warned of the danger of so doing. Indeed, Mathews seems to have thought there was danger, for he told the bugler to get out of" the way, which he did. Deceased took a hammer, and was driving out the fuse, when the shell exploded, tearing the flesh completely off one of his legs, and shattering the bone. His head and face were also much injured. The accident occurred just after dinner, and the men were nearly all lying down in the tents, or probably other lives, would have, been lost. Captain Hunter, and Dr. Manley, surgeon, 12th Regiment, came in a short time from, Tauranga, and everything possible was done for deceased, who lingered till halfpast eight o'clock in the. evening. De-. ceased was formerly a servant with Captain Dv Moulin. The authorities are verymuch to blame for not collecting these, shells, which are to be seen in all directions, for a considerable distance. Up-, wards of two years have passed since the engagement at the Gate Paj and still these ; shells arc_ permitted. to. remain.