DAMAGES CAUSED BY A RUN-A WAY HORSE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6758, 16 July 1883, Page 5

DAMAGES CAUSED BY A RUNA WAY HORSE.

On Saturday forenoon a considerable amount of damage was caused iu Queen-street by a runaway horse, with a spring-ctirt attached. The hor=e and cart belong to Mr. Peace, of Mount Eden, and were in charge of a young man named Arthur Steward. It appears that the horse had only been purchased on the previous day, and some alteration being required to the blinkers, the horse and cart were drawn up infront of the shop of Mr. Cooper, saddler, next the Army and Navy Hotel. We are informed that precautions were taken to prevent the horse getting away, tlie wheel being chained. Something, however, startled the animal, and be tore madly down Queeo-street, the chain through the wheel breaking. Dr. Cooper's horse was standing oppo-ite Mr. Williams, chemist's shop, at the turn from Queen-street into Grey-etreet. The runaway fortunately swerved round the doctor's horse, and then turned on to the footpath, carrying away the corner-post of Mr. Williams' verandah, also the posts of Mr. Aley, jeweller's shop, and those of Mr. Blackburn, tailor. These being of cast iron snapped short off, and the two verandahs collapsed with a crash. It was almost a wonder that there were not a number of people standing under these verandahs, for usually there are a number of dispensary patients waiting around Mr. Williams' Bhop at that hour for Dr. Hooper. Fortunately they were all inside at the time. So closely did the trap go to Mr. Aley's plate glass window, which was crowded with jewellery, in cases, &c , that it Bmaßhed the glazed name-board on the window-sill, and one of the large plates of glass is scratched. Of course, had these been broken, the damage might have been very great indeed. Without beiDg interrupted in the least, the horse rushed along the footpath without colliding either with the other verandah-posts or the lamp at the corner, and crossed Wellealeystreet. Here tho cart collided with one of the wrought iron uprights of Cruickshank and Miller's verandah, which it dragged down but did not break. The horse there swerved into the street, and rushed along to the corner of Darby-street, up which he turned, and, coming into collision with a heavilyladen dray, he was brought to a standstill. Curiously enough neither horse nor cart has sustained any material injury, but it is most marvellous that in the crowded state of the street Bome grtater injuries were not caused, or that lives were not lost.