THE FLOOD AND LOSS OF LIFE AT THE TURON.

New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 599, 10 January 1852, Page 3

THE FLOOD AND LOSS OF LIFE AT THE TURON.

(Fiom the Sydney Hciald.) Erskin Point. — December 19: Yesteulay afternoon we wero visited with a storm (or ralber tbe effecls of a storm) of no ordinary description ; the fiist indication of which was the appearance of unusually black clouds fiora the mountain tops, accompanied by some heavy claps of thunder, rain, and hailstones of an enormous siz* 1 , It appears lhata large quantity must have fallen on tbe mountains in a very short space of time, ard more paiticularly on those from whence the waters are conducted by gullies and tributary streams into Oakey ami LUllo Oukey Creeks ; so sudden and unexpected, was the rush of waters down these places, a considerable loss to the miners, and I am sorry to say te&s of life, was the result. I saw the waters of the Turon, at the junction of Little Oakey Creek, rise from 12 to 15 feet in less than a quarter of an hour, the bed of the river being covered to a consideiable depth by one almost instantaneous gush; the miners were rushir-gup the banks of the river in all directions, and but few near this spot bad the oppoitunity of saving then* cradles and mining implements ; the former, in most instances, were to be seen floating down the stream., a.id tbe latter were either buried in the holes by the masses ol stones and gravel brought down by the flood, or earned by the violence of the stream on some point of land or rocks which was in a position to stop their further progress, a portion of the banks of Golden Point being literally strewn with cradles, hoppers, &.c, he. I pioceeded a short distance np the banks of Little Oakey Creek, whare tbe waters weie rushing down like an avalanche, and removing in their futious progress the trunks of large trees, enoimous masses of rock, and almost ever) thing which came within tbeir reach. One unfortunate paity, a •Captain Robinson (who foimerly had command of one of the Sydney coasters), and two other men, were at work in a tunnel on Little Oakey Creek, about a quaitei of a mile from its junction with the Turon River, when the wateis rushed in upon them before they could make their esc.ipe. It appears tlut Captain Robinson was carried by the stream to tbe junction, and from thence about 5()O yards down the Tuion River, where, on my return, his body was being tat en fiom the water in a dreadfully biuised condition irom coming in contact with the trunks of the trees, rocks, &c, &c, no pait of hw clothing remaining- excepting- a leather bolt ; he was immediately carried into a tent occupied by the mineis in the employ of Messrs. Trappitt and Co., on tins point, and every means was used by tAo medical mm to restore life, but without success; the other unfoitunate person (his mate), whose name, I believe, is Richards, from Adelaide, is no doubt still in the tunnel, and paities are now employed in digging douu to endeavouv to und his remains, lam not at p\esent in possession of any positive information as to there being any fuilher loss of life, but I feai llieie must bp some" which have not ydt come to our knowledge. It may seom strange to those who have never witnessed the effects of these mountain storm*, but thegien* m&b of waters seemed to pass this point so as to remind one of an immense train of lailway carriages at fnU speed, and the waters of the Tuion receded to neaily their usual height in about half an hour. '1 his is, of course, another disappointment to those who were just pr. j pniuig to worl> their bed claims, btic it is the opinion of many that in a fow days, ll no moie rain falls, the woik can be commenced.

(From another Cm respondent.) Soi-ala.— Decf-mber 19: We had a \eiy heavy thuadeistoun yesteidny (18t» instant, lhuy>day), accompanied mth heavy i.iin ; the river ro-e about five feet 111 the couise of tpn minutes, sweeping the cradles and tools in all chieclioua. Mr, S. Elliott and Mr. MolviUo, of lialaiam, lo>t lit- u day's gold getting, not havingtime to get it out of the wjj\ 1 hc.ud to day of Severn) people bt'ing smotheiod in the tunnels, the watei jubliing in on tiiem before they could g<t our.

Ciiptnin Fitzwaurice, a retard militaiy man, fi is hoi'MMs hipped the Sherili of Mayo, in (lie btreois ot I Cnstlebar, because bo had not ins-citwl lua name m iho Grand Jury panel • As soon as the Captain hid committed the sis-nult, he rode oft. The Sheriff, Mr. Kutled»v, is a baruster, and ho laid the matter bt'foie hia professional brothreii. 'J he uj);.hot was. that lniimua-lion-3 wmo swum, nnd a wan ant ist.vied ioi tliu aueatot Captain Filzmauiicu. Tl»o Deny Journul corrains an account of thp captira of a number ol wliaK's. by the countij people m Di ufonaahy li.iy. The nionsteis < nt^scil in .til (hej tot tliem-,(4\cs "into n "ht" fiom wlncii uvv coi'ld not rctmn. 'J lien the wolf lu'};nu \\\t\\ frt,n , pilchi >'^ s » tntclu'is, Jiud fvtiy available weipyi. AJtei aboul tluet 1 houis, spLislniig ,u J Juuilil.i>^. Uio puze aj .ctnt'4.