TAPANUI.

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 86, 2 October 1869, Page 3

TAPANUI.

(From our Own Correspondent.)

September 27th, 1869.

The weather has for the last few days been delightful. t The whole country is putting on its spring appearance. Among those who have vigoitrously made hay while the sun slione, is the contractor for our local footpath, who, taking advantage of the favourable weather, has pushed on so rapidly that I believe he will have finished by trie end of this week. A veiy distressing aeeidezit lias occurred here. Captain WKenzie has for some time had a man in hip employment, whose work was to fell timber in the bush.. This person lived all alone, and utterly absent from anything like society. Some time ago, while pursuing his vocation, he was crushed by the fall of a dry tree. His condition" was pitable, for" tine of his arms and one of the small bones of his thigh, were broken, and his left side completely paralized. No assistance was at hand, and the poor maimed fellow had to drag his weary body to his hut, in a condition that made the slightest motion agony. By sticking his axe in the ground he succeeded in reaching the hut, a distance of nearly a mile from the scene of the accident But his tortures "were not over, were indeed but begun. For eight long days he lay, weak and exhausted, and almost dead of starvation: His

spirits were failing ; he believed himself doomed, and was fast sinking into a fatal lethargy, when a loud cooey struck upon his ears. It was the bullock driver come for a- load of timber. The poor fellow was saved, and is, I am glad to learn, progressing favourably under the skilful treatment of Dr. M'Laughlan. This melancholy case has shown the benefit to be derived from friendly societies . lam glad to say that an Oddfellows Lodge is to be opened here on the Uh of October. It is to be hoped it will receive liberal encouragement. Bullock teams are in great demand at present. The Victoria Saw Mill Company are unable to supply orders, for want of a sufficient supply of cartage.