Queenstowa Explorers.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1680, 9 April 1886, Page 4

Queenstowa Explorers.

TERRIBLE PRIVATIONS.

(UNITED PBEBB ASSOCIATION.}

Dunedin. Thursday. : Mr Dewar, Postmaster of Queenstown, who left there on March 6th for Martin's Bny, returned this afternoon along with the principal -members of the search party. He explains that hefc and his^ compßnion (the shepherd, Donald Keith were detained owing to bad weather and the flooded state of the creeks. On reaching Pykn's < ; reek, Keith declined to cross bcnniise them was no ground game*, and hia gun hnd previously burst. Ho connselled that they should t,iko to the. ranges, which they Accordingly did.. While on the ranges Keith took ill, losine: his sight and speech,- together with the use of Ins limbs. Dewar had to enrry him on his back for a distance of two miles from the ranges, and hunt nfter the dops m order to get '•tucker" for both. From March 17th till th»«y were found by. one of lh« penreh parry their stock of provisions was limited to a littJn salt and pepper, and th'j food the d»»8 furnish rd. Mr Dewar managed to provide game until the last two days, when he came down from the hills and topic up a. position on the track, co that no person could pass without him or the dogs seting them. Constable Young, from Queenstown, found them on the 2nd of April, and brought them meal, tea,, and sugar, which' were the means of saving Keith's life. Two of the search party were left with Keith, who cannot be removed for two or three weeks, when they expect he will be m a condition to bo moved m very easy stages to St Martin's Bay, which is about 20 miles distant from their camp.