ROXBURGH.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 122, 9 June 1870, Page 6

ROXBURGH.

(From our own Correspondent.)

I am sorry to have to record the death, tinder sad circumstances, of one of our most respected residents, James Maclewaine, the packer, who perished on the Old Man Range during the snow storm of Sunday, 22nd May. He had been out with a three-horse load of provisions for Campbells and the neighbourhood. It appears that he saw the storm gathering, and left Campbells to endeavour to avoid it, but was caught in it shortly after he lef c. He had got over the worst part of the hill, but unfortunately lost the track, when he lay down, apparently from sheer exhaustion. He took all the means at his command to preserve his life, having spread two empty bags on the ground, and covered himself up with others. The first uneasiness was caused by one of the dogs coming home, followed some time after by two of the horses. Search parties immediately started, who found him on Wednesday, wrapped up as described, but dragged away from the rock under which he had lain down. It is supposed that he had the halter of a third horse over his arm, so thai after he had rested a little he would have a horse to bring him home ; but poor fellow ! he did not need it ; the hcrse had stayed a long time with him, and it was its struggles to get loose that dragged him from under the rock. His death is deeply regretted here, more especially by the diggers over the range, who will always remember his kind and obliging disposition. He was buried here last Sunday, and the attendance at the funeral was the largest that has ever been in this district ; nearly 200 followed him to the grave. This instance of being lost in the snow will perhaps show the Government the necessity of erecting the promised shelter shed on the range, as a great many of the diggers over the range have to come in at this season of the year. The wonder is that there are not a great many more lost. The necessity for a shelter shed was brought under the notice of Warden Wood on his visit to Campbells last summer, who promised lo use his influence in representing it to the proper quarter, but that is the last that has been heard of it. Great complaints are being made here about the late arrivals of the mails from Lawrence, the one one last Thursday not reaching here till 12 o'clock at night. No local matters of any importance ; everything very dull. The river is still keeping up, so that the claims here cannot commence sinking.