FATAL ACCIDENT.

Kumara Times, Issue 745, 18 February 1879, Page 2

FATAL ACCIDENT.

Another of those fatal accidents which it is unfortunately our painful duty to record occurred last evening, at abnit h-df-pist five o'clock, at the Austrian's claim, Westhrooke. It ap pears that the claim, which is a large sluicing one, has an exteusiv • tunnel 'tail-race, in which there is a jimp-up of abou; 40ft. .During the latter portion of last week, the tunnel hecame choked, the first intimation the 'claimholders had of-- this being the water backing up to the face. They at once turned off their supply-race, and attempttd to clear the o'sruci ion in the tunnel by using dynamite,' but without effect, although the water gradually drained away through the tail-race from the lace. List i.v ning the party were s anding at the month of the tunnel, when the d ceased, Govani Valk, pto po ed to enter the tuimel and inspect the ob tructi »i«:' His 'mates, however, knowing tin; danger, tried to dissuade him fi-.m entering, but without avail. After he had been only a few minutes in the tunnel, a stifled report and roar wa, heard by those without, and in another second a heavy volume of water, mixed with debris and stones came inshin; down the race, high over the'boxes at, its moiuh, and carrying everything in front of i. Hea.ing the no' e and at once guessing tlie c-ne<e, his unit s" trie I t>#ra>p the deceased as he was swept d-»wn the boxes. Imt without eff-c, the unfortunate' man being carried down to witlin a few feet of the Teremakau river, and then shot out over a fall of nearly 90 feet. Assist..nc •-'. wis, immediately rendered and Dr HnxtaUe; who was• quicklv iu -attendance., pronbuiic:d tint •■life was extinct'... The. deceaed was a native of Austria, about 24 yeais of age, and on'y a fo tr year.s'

resident in the Colony, and was greatly respected amongst the mining community generally. .