Museum Notes OLD COACHING DAYS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22593, 24 December 1938, Page 2 (Supplement)

Museum Notes OLD COACHING DAYS

There is a reminder of older and slower methods of transport. than those of to-day in the passenger coach preserved in the Canterbury Museum. It is labelled “Springfield to Kumara,” and was once in use over a route by which motor-cars now travel and passengers have the alternative of making most of the journey by train through the Otira tunnel. The coaching journey was

gradually shortened until the final section from Arthur’s Pass to Otira only was in use while the tunnel was being put through. Although many visitors to the museum show an interest in the coach, none has shown so much as Mrs Henry Allan, of Massachussetts. U.S.A., who came to the museum specially to see a vehicle bearing

(By R. A. Falla)

her father’s name. Although Mr Freeman Cobb was never personally in New Zealand, his name was so well known in connexion with coaching services in the Southern Hemisphere, that it was used under licence in New Zealand. Cassidy and Son were the proprietors of the West Coast Coach Service, but the name Cobb and Co. is conspicuous on the vehicle.

Our museum coach was built in Nelson about 1890, and during its long life of active service, was frequently used by the late Richard John Seddon on his journeys to Westland. It was acquired by Mr E. M. Lovell-Smith some years ago. and was presented by him to the museum.