CAPSIZE OF A COACH.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVIII, Issue 101, 1 May 1914, Page 5

CAPSIZE OF A COACH.

LOSS OF SEVERAL MAIL BAGS

A DANGEROUS FORD,

The Postmaster at Waiau reported on Tuesday that heavy rain fell there on Monday night, totalling about two inches for the night. As a consequence .the Lottery Kiver was in high flood, and the coach from Waiau to Kaikoura, in attempting to cross the river on Tuesday morning, was capsized and swept down stream about 200 yards. With the exception of five private bags and one hamper, the mails were saved, although the newspaper portion got very wet. ■ ' Details of the accident show that the horses and coach got into a very bad rut, and the force of. the water capsized the coach.. The horses pulled the forecamage free and made for the bank. The driver (George Newman) jumped out and called to (the only passenger (Miss E. Christensen) to follow him. This she did, and Newman caught her, .and after a. struggle, during which the current carried them down some two chains, they managed to reach the bank. They were fortunate in not being caught by the coach, which was just behind. The missing mail bags belonged, tto Colonel Chaffey, Messrs E. E. Ayrton, F. S. Northcote, and Atkinson. A hamper and some parcels were also lost.. Miss Christenseiij who lost all her personal effects,, including a purse containing money, was a visitor from the North Island and Melbourne, and was goiiig through to visit her sister at Kaikoura. The ford is one of the _most dangerous on ithe Waiau-Kaikourd? road, and there has been considerable agitation for bridging the .river at the spot. A deputation waited on the. Hon. W. Fraser when he was at Waiau, and the result was that £500 was placed on the Estimates. The erection of the bridge will probably be facilitated as the result \of the accident. The coach now lies half burieS in the shingle on a spit, and will have to be dug out. , , ■