BLACKSTONE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2006, 4 August 1892, Page 20

BLACKSTONE.

August 1. — The curlers and rabbiters are in it, for after a week of real wintry weather KingFrost reigns supreme. Overhead the lark sings gaily and the sun shines brightly, but under foot — well, I never saw the roads in such a state. All who travel them use very bad French, and waggons and drays are continually getting stuck, and the poor horses earn their feed. Aurora Australis.— About a fortnight ago I witnessed a most magnificent display of the Southern Lights. I never saw them so brilliant. Accident.— Rather a serious accident befell the Clyde-Naßefjy coach on Friday evening. It seems that a bag of oats or chaff was left oa the road

passing the old racecourse near Naseby. It being dusk, the horses were on it before it could be seen, and as a consequence the leaders at once turned round facing the coach, then round again and off, kicking and plunging. Mr M'Swan, our steady and careful driver, did his best to control them, but at last he was thrown out on his head through the coach going over, and the leaders smashed the pole and made off. Before they conld be stopped one of them had been choked by some of the harness tightening round its neck. The king bolt had come out and the other two horses had taken the front part of the coach with them. The coach is a wreck. Miss Sammon, the only passenger, had a very narrow escape, for had the coach gone over on her side she would have been killed, as it was she came off with a good shaking and a few scratches.