The Cardigan mine in the Ballarat district. was recently the scene of a terrible fatality. Karly in the morning, just after the shift had started work, an inrush of water occurred in the drive in which the tien were working. Some three or four managed to battle their way through and reach, the shaft whence they were hauled to the surface in safety. Six of their mates were left below, and the greatest anxiety ensued as to their fate, Pumps were immediately set to work at full speed, but repeated inrushes of water baffled the attempts of the reseiing party to yet below. Eventually the water was sowered sufficiently to allow of an attempt being made. This was forty-eight hours after the first inrush occurred. Proceeding cautiously along the drive to the bottom of the balance shaft, the party hailed on the chance of any one being left alive in the top of the shaft, and were relieved to hear an answering ' voice. Climbing slowly up the ladder to the head of the shaft they found two truckers, who had spent the whole of that awful time perched on the staging carrying the hauling gear. They were quickly conveyed to the surface, where they were found to have suffered little, physically, from their forced entombment. The rescuing party then [descended again, and at some distance along the tunnel, from the head of the balance shaft, came across the bodies of [two of the missing men, who had been shed by the current into a little working off the main tunnel. So far shir of-forts to recover the other two huies have been unsuccessful, a vast amount of slime and other material blocking the way having to be first removed before the whole of the work: ngs can be explored. Upon nows of the disaster reaching Melbourne, telegrams of sympathy were dispatched by the Governor-General, Governor Clarke, and the Premier, who is also legal manager to the Company, whilst later, substantial cheques were forwarded to the subscriptions got up in Ballarat, in id of the families who have sustained the loss of their principal bre: d winners.
Holidays Marred and Drought Broke.
Froma_ meteorological standpoint the Easter holidays opened badly. Within three days, no less than 5 inches of rain fell in the metropolitan district, whilst the country generally was blessed with a copious downpour. For a period of 48 hours work in the Bay and at the piers was at a standstill, vessels arrived, but nothing in the shape of launch or tug could approach alongside to put health or harbour officials
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.