THE WHITECOMBE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 136, 15 September 1870, Page 6

THE WHITECOMBE.

(From, a Correspondent.) Allow me to record an act of great kindness and promptitude on the part of the miners now working at the Whitecombe Creek. One of the number, John Morrison, employed in Mr. Alexander's claim, unfortunately had his leg broken, when Dr. Lake was sent for, who, on his arrival, recommended the removal of the poor fellow to the hospital as quickly as possible. This being made known, Mr. Alexander prepared a stretcher, and the miners mustered en masse to the number of twenty-two, and every one who could contribute anything for his comfort on the journey did so. They started from the Whitecombe about eight o'clock in the morning of Saturday, the 30th of July, for Switzers, a distance of about thirty miles. The day wtis very bad, as it was snowing and raiuing. The first twelve miles of the journey being through bush, and the snow and rain, accompanied by the water dropping from the trees, made it still worse ; however, they were determined to reach Switzers that night. When about fourteen miles on the journey, Mr. Duncan Matheson, storekeeper from Switzers, met them with refreshments for them, stating at the same time every preparation was getting ready at Gow's hut, distance about two miles. They declined to stop till they arrived there, when they were provided with tea, &c. by the overseer, Mr. Andrew Puller, a young man scarcely out of his teens, but from the kindness he then showed, he has not only the good wishes of the miners of the district, but all who may come in contact with him. I may here state that a hawker's waggon met them here to convey the unfortunate man the remaining eleven miles. It was hired for five pounds. When again ready for another start, they asked Morrison which he would prefer, being carried on the stretcher or the waggon. The poor fellow said very reluctantly he would prefer being carried, whereupon they shouldered him most willingly. As soon as this was known, Mr. D. Matheson (all credit to him) went to acquaint the miners at Gow's Creek, at the same time they forded the Waikaia river. At this time they were reinforced by the miners from Gow's Creek. It was now getting dark. Mr. Matheson then rode on to the Waikaia Station and told the Messrs. M' Donald, who at once sent refreshments and candles for lamps ; also a shepherd to show them the best track. lam requested to say that the miners are under a deep obligation to the Messrs. M'Donald for their assistance, as it enabled the party to reach their destination much sooner than they would otherwise have done. They arrived at the hospital between nine and ten o'clock the same night, and there they were most liberally supplied by Mr. Skene and Mr. Braithwaite, the secretary of the institution, who has been unremitting in his exertions in behalf of the same. In conclusion I beg to add that the late Governor Sir George Grey, when on a tour through the goldfields, at Alexandra expressed his surprise at the good feeling existing among the miners, knowing, as he did, that they were from all countries. Such acts as the above speaks volumes for the miners at the Whitecombe Creek. I have refrained from mentioning names, because such would be a great injustice, as one and all were willing to render every assistance possible to get the poor fellow carried through in one day ; and by great perseverance they completed the journey (thirty miles) under fourteen hours. Had the new track not been made through the bush, it would have been impossible to have gone along the Whitecombe road on that day,

The second annual report of the Inspector in Bankruptcy has been published. The number of adjudications made during the year ending November 30fch, 1869, has been 520, showing an increase in number over the previous year of about 75 per cent. Of these 360' did not exceed L3OO in liabilities. Canterbury stands highest in the list, and Otago next. Threes eighths of the bankrupts are drawn from four classes of the community —^hotelkeepers, 64 ; farmers, 49 ; storekeepers, 46 ; and miners, 35 ; the remainder belonging to 112 callings. A contemporary remarks that the fact that a larger number of bankruptcies takes place in New Zealand with a population of 250,000, than in Scjdand, with a population of over 3,000,000, is " a significant fact indeed !"