THE DUNSTAN.

Southland Times, Volume 2, Issue 2, 15 May 1863, Page 3

THE DUNSTAN.

\j (From the Dunstan News, May 1 .) An inquest was held on Saturday last at the Manulierikia Junction touching the death of a man found in the Manuherikia on the day previous. From the evidence, it appears deceased had to cross the river at night, and in doing so, it is presumed he lost the track, and getting into deep water, was drowned. Verdict — found drowned. Mr. Kendall left on Monday night last, to hold an inquest on the body of the man who was accidentally killed on Sunday last at Butcher's gully. On Tuesday he proceeded to Mr. Black's station to hold an inquest on the body of a man found dead by one of Mr. Black's stockmen. The deceased is supposed to be Captain Finn, who left this place some time backwithout mentioning his destination. Should the deceased turn out to l>e Captain Finn, it will he a sad bereavement to the wife and seven children he has left behind him. Information was brought to thp Camp on Monday evening last of the sudden death, of a man on the opposite side of the river The deceased was seen to go across the river in the ranrning, was found in the aflernoon about three miles up the river, sitting near the traok. and leaning against his swag. Our informant thought he was only resting, but on approaching found him to be dead. On Sunday last, about five p m., a man named Martin Kelly, accidentally fell over a precipice in Butcher's Gully. It appears deceased, while in a state of intoxication, not knowing wheie he was going, fell over one of those perpendicular rocks so numerous in tbe gully", and was so seriously hurt that he died in a few hours after he was found. The precipice was from sixty to seventy feet in height, and the approach I to it of such a character as to induce the belief that the track went in the direction so fatally followed by the deceased. On Tuesday last a man fell from a rock between the Fall 9 and the Doctor's Point ; it appears he was crossing one of those dangerous passes, which abounds in the neighborhood, when his foot slipped and was precipitated to the depths below, about fifty fret, causing instant death. The name of the party is not known, but no doubt will be, after the inquest. The mortality of this district has, during the last week, been largely on the increase. "What with fatal accidents and deaths 'from disease, the Resident Magistrate lias had more than enough to do in holding in quests. Five inquests have been caused by accidents or disease. Owing to the ' distance from the camp, and the necessity of holding an inquest before decomposition set in, the business of the Resident and Warden's Courts has been at a comparative stand still. As we have so frequently stated, it is impossible for one gentleman to overtake the business of Warden and Resident Magistrate, We are informed by a miner, lately returned from the Shotover. that he saw the print of the foot of the Moa Bird in the enow, which he tracked for about four miles, but had to give up the search ; darkness coming on, he was compelled to return to where his mates were camped. He states that the imprints measured eighteen inches from the two extremes, and made a very deep impression in the snow. The locality is between the source of the Shotover and the head of Wanaka Lake. The Molyneux still continues to fall, and matters look decidedly brighter, both for the miners and storekeepers. We hear of several instances of large finds, and all

are more or less doing well ; of course there are the usual unlucky ones, but generally, this class are less in number here than on other diggings.