SERIOUS ACCIDENT TO THE MASTERTON COACH.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 79, 1 October 1879, Page 2

SERIOUS ACCIDENT TO THE MASTERTON COACH.

A most serious accident occurred to the Master'on coach on Sanrlav morning, on fa wav between that pHce and Palmer-iton. The ccaeh un^er eom*nand of that skilful whin, Qeorge Hunter, left Master-On at the usual time, hut on Saturday night finding ■•hat it would be dangerous to continue the -•onrnev, a stay was made all night at the firm's stable m the Forty Miles Bush. On Sunday morning a fresh start was made, and all went well until the river Mangatainolco was reached, and finding that it was safe to cross the river m the punt, the passengers dismounted, and horses and trap went aboard. The river was safely crossed, and the Mao'i m charge and the driver sprang ashore — the former to fasten the rope so as to secure the punt, and the latter to hold his horses' head before disembarking — when the Native punt-keeper let the rope slip out of his hands, and the consequence was that the punt was swept back into the river by the force of the water. Hunter held on to his horses' heads and was dragged off the bank, while the water rushed over tho end of the punt causing it to sink, so that os one end was deep m the water the other raised out of it. coach, horses, passengers, and driver, tumbled over into tbe deep part of river. Hunter managed to catch hold of a rope, which he also gave to his companions and all succeeded m getting safely to shore ; while m the somersault performed by the horses the king-bolt got loose and the animal, free from the entangled coach, swam down the river and scrambled ashore m tbe vicinity of an old ford. We regret to say that the mail bag was lost, but hopes are entertained that when the river subsides a little it may be found all right." There were four mails m "one i^lje~Waffgamilr-Woo_U vMe, Napier, and Palmer_ton, but it is the opinion of the driver that they have sunk In some deep hole close to the upset. After the accident, which occured, aa is known, about seven miles from Wood** -He, Hunter mounted one of the horses and rode into that township to obtain assistance, and from thence came into Palmeraton m a brake. He lays considerable blame upon Maori puntman. stating that there was not the slightest difficulty, and the accident was purely the result of carelessness, and the matter is one whioh opens up, the danger of giving the Natives the control of those crossings. It is well-known that m, cases of danger or emergency they lose all power of action, and very often allow a calamity to take place, when by a little presence of mind it might easily be averted. On Sunday the cause of the catastrophe, m. stead of making tha slightest effort to assist those whom his stupidity had placed m peril, quickly made tracks for a high bank and commenced clapping his hands and beating the a ; i% while he screamed out?"'' the Pakeha ; oh, the Pakeha." Then again the same man is seldom two days m charge, as when the keeper wishes to go a journey his place is relieved by relays until his return. Although fortunately no lives were lost, ancl the horses managed to secure their safety, the coach has been considerably damaged, the roof being stove m, and other injuries sustained which have rendered it comparai tively useless.