THE ACCIDENT TO THE TAUPO COACH.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5381, 14 May 1879, Page 3

THE ACCIDENT TO THE TAUPO COACH.

A few days ago the Taupo coach fell through the culvert over the Petane river, near the Messrs Carr's station. The county engineer, it was* subsequently stated, reported that the culvert was perfectly safe, and that the accident to the coach' must have occurred through careless driving. Mr Hobbs, the driver of the coach, who is well-known as one of the best and most careful whips in the North Island, writes to us a lengthy letter, giving details of the accident, to prove that he was not in fault. Tt appears that he did not intend to take the coach through to Taupo that day, owing to the flooded . state of the country, but he took three r ladies to Messrs Carr's station. Fortunately, as events proved, he had also a groom with him. After depositing the ladies he had to proceed over the cutting to turn the coach, when the ofF-side leader dropped through the culvert, turning the coach over into the gully, in deep water. Mr Hobba was underneath the coach, and must have been drowned, had it not been for the presence of the of the groom, who was able to drag him out. With the assistance of several men from Mesßrs ;Carr's station the horses were also rescued after four hours' hard work, but the coach was completely wrecked. .Mr Hobbs. adds :— " The culvert where the horses broke through has been in a very bad state for the last 18 months, and it was then reported to the Council as unsafe. The repairs now being done to the culvert merely -4 consist of a few bundles of manuka and \ shingle on the top, forming a regular man-trap, and the settlers are always in dread of crossing in consequence of the great danger. The overseer of the roads would appear to imagine that if he can take a saddle horse across the culvert a coach and four can also pass." We understand that Mr Hobbs intends to bring an action against the County Council to recover damages.