ORIGINAL CORRECPONDENCE.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 20, 23 December 1863, Page 2

ORIGINAL CORRECPONDENCE.

WE DO NOT HOLD ODRBELVES BEBPONBIBLK FOR THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED ;BT OUB ! CORRESPONDENTS. : • (To the Editor of the Invercargill Times.) Sje, — I learn from tbe Tnvercarcfill Times that a maa has been fatally wounded owing to the accidental discharge of a gun, which was being carried by nnother. This was one of those accidents .which result from g ross carelessness ; for no man has any right to carry a ioaded gun in a horizontal position. Persons who are guilty of wounding others through such culpable negligence should be treated as criminals. About a fortnight ago I had a narrow escape from being shot by a man who fired off his gun so near my window that some of the shot lodged in the window frame. During the new-year holidays, which are near at hand, we will have plenty of these mighty hunters jn the woods, who have guns, but who, unfortunately do not know how to use them. . /Permit me then to cull their attentioato tbe two following short and simple rules, which, "if duly attended to, would render Accidents from the discharge of £re arms almost impossible :— First,— 'f- Never : fire off ' a shot in a horizontal direction unless there be a clear line of at least seventy yards a-uead." Second,—" Never carry a loaded gun in a horizc ntal position ; let it be carried in such a way as to point either to the sky or to the ground." In all civilized -coußti jes.it id considered bad manners to carry even an unloaded gun in a horizontal position, as persons coming from an opposite joint are ignorant of the fact of the guns being unloaded. I am, &c.. ' Obsbrvhh: P.S.— I may also mention, as it is a fact not generally known here, that if the muzzle of a gun happens to get dipped in water, though only to the depth of a few inches, the barrel will likely burst unless it is dried before being discharged (To the Editor of the Invercargill Times.) Sib, — A melancholy accident occured here last week, re. ulting- in fcbe loss of one man's life, and four others nearly perishingfroro cold and hanger; all this is mainly owing to neglect on the part of the Government, in not erecting snow poles or guide posts between the different branches of this important goldticld, particularly between dough's Creek and Campbell's Gully, as the country is nl.nost impassable in fine weather, -on account of the swampy nature of the ground and the density of the scrub that; you requi-e to pass through. All these drawbacks, added to the uncertainty of the .weather, frighten the miners ; so that they are daily leaving the best gold field in the Province at tho present time. The party who suffered so much hardship here last week consisted of five : He iry Camming?, (who was drowned,) Lewis Harris, John Burns, Eiward Jackson, and William Sunilerland, lelt Welshman's Gully on Friday, the 4t.h instant, with tbe ..intention ot going to Campbell's Gully; and on Sunday, the 6tb, wben halt way between Gough's Creek and Cambell's, they were overtaken by a dreadful hailstorm and fog, which compelled them to camp for the night ; Monday morning they consumed the List of the provisions for breakfast, tiie storm continued unabated, until Tuesday morning it cleared up a little. So they started, hoping tc get to Campbell's that day. They had not travelled mere than two hours, when it commenced snowing harder than it had dune before, and tbey [*ot so bewildered that they could not retrace their steps to where they camped the night before. One of the party sprained his ankle, and was unable to proceed any fur her ; there was no alternative, but to lonva him where he was, amongst the snow, to shift the best way he could. The other four got down into a thick scrub, at the head of the Waikia, and followed its course downward until Wednesday evening, at six o'clock, when they found themseUes opp isiie to the camp at Gough's Creek. There was a signal made to t^em from the camp as soon as they were seen ; and Sergeant Walker lost no time in saddling his horse, and going to their assistance; but one of the unfortunate men, Henry Cucnmings was so excited and impatient w!»pn he saw the signal, that he rushed into the river, thinking he could ford it, but was washed off his legs before he got nanny feet from the bank, and never ro«e aga n- There was one of his mates along with Inin at the time ; the only one of the party who was able to walk, but lie was so weak that he-could not walk ten yards together without falling, the other t.vo wero ruled up in a blanket, some distance vu t > the fl it ; and the fifth, who was lelt behind, was supposed to be dead. Sergeant Walker's gallant conduct on the occasion reflects great credit 011 the Otago Police Fujce. At the eminent riak of his own life, after divesting himself of his clothes, he mounted his horse, bringing some provisions with liini, plunge.l ip boldly, and to the other side, although tho water was going over the horse's back ; finding Ait impossible to bring the men over, he came back himself, rode to theCimp for blankets and more provisions, and crossed over a second time ; although the river was risiug vry fast, he landed in tafety, and got back the same way, to ths great joy of all the spectators present. He then srarted in search ot the lost one, accompanied by Mr Shann, a runliolder, who generously volunteered to go and assist in th<> search. Tney found the man on Friday evening, alive, although very weak and unable to wa.k, he was sensible, and is now doing very well, at Mr Shann'a; he was four days without any food or blankets amongst the snow. There are rumors current (hat a great many lives were lost in the neighborhood of Campbell's during last week's storm. Whether there is any truth in these rumors or not, it is high time that the Government should take some active measures in cut ing bridle iracka through these mountain passes, 0 where they derive such a large amount of their levenue. Hoping you will give publicity to the loregoinsj, I remain, your obedient servant, Aucir. M-Inxire. Switzcr's Diggings. Tuesday, loth December, 1863.