A MAN AND HORSE STUCK IN THE MUD.

Auckland Star, Volume IV, Issue 1153, 3 October 1873, Page 2

A MAN AND HORSE STUCK IN THE MUD.

TIIK STATE OF OUR ROADS,

A short timo age we gave an account of a singular and nearly fatal accident that occurred to a young woman on the new beach road at Hobson's Bay. Since that time no steps have been taken to put the road in such repair as would provent the possibility of a recurrence of similar casualties to persons pas-sing that way. The result is that we have again to chronicle an accident on the road near the place where the first occurred. Mr Jerome, of Newton, was riding over to Remuera on Tuesday morning, when his horse becoming restive backed on to the soft mud, and immediately sank to the girths in clay. The rider then dismounted, fearing that the animal would shortly disappear altogether and place him in the position of the Irishman whose head was discovered peeping above a bog, and who stated that he had a good nag beneath him which was bound to bring him through if there -was any possibility of doing so. No sooner, however, had Mr Jerome set foot on the clay than he too went down with alarming rapidity. He threw his aria* round the animal's neck to keep him up, and the two were thus locked in loving embrace while the assistance lustily called for by Mr Jerome was coming. A number of men employed by Mr Scarborough hearing the cooeying made by the bogged horseman, ran to the spot and threw him a rope, with which he managed to extricate himself. The line was then attached to the horse's neck, and leverage was obtained at the other end by aid of the tail, and the animal was worked backwards and forwards on its side, so as to puddle the clay and make it soft enough to permit of the final release of the imprisoned steed. This was at length accomplished, and horse and rider, in a much begrimed state, were restored to liberty. How" it might have fared with them if the accident had occurred at night it is very difficult to say; but we shall not be at all surprised to hear that some very serious accident has occurred on this road unless immediate steps are taken to render it passable.' The Road Board is very greatly to blame for endangering the lives of honest ratepayers in the way it is doing by leaving a man-trap like this in a muchfrequented thoroughfare.