SLIP OVER 40-FOOT CLIFF

Taranaki Daily News, 8 June 1931, Page 6

SLIP OVER 40-FOOT CLIFF

HORSES AND DRAY TURN IN AIR.

DRIVER'S VERY NARROW ESCAPE

To watch the two horses and heavy block dray he had been driving a moment before describe a giant paiabola as they twisted and turned down over a 40ft cliff into the w-iers of the Waiteika River was the experience Of a farm hand, Mr. Martin Luckin. South Road, Opunake, on Thursday afternoon. Owing to the fact that he was able to throw himself clear a moment before the accident the driver escaped uninjured. With his employer, Air. Marcus Brophy, Mr. Luckin was carting wood from the mouth of the Waiteika River and the dray with the two horses harnessed tandem fashion had just reached the top of the cliff track with a full load of wood when the leading horse stopped and turned. The result was that the full weight of the dray fell on the shafter, which began to slip. Perceiving that the dray was about to fall Air. Luekin jumped clear. He was only .just, in time, for a moment later the horses, dray and load disappeared over the cliff. . On their way down the precipitous cliff the dray and two horses turned completely over and came to rest the right way up in about four ffiet of water. The leader was very badly injured, having a torn and broken shoulder. When Air. S. Fea ver, Opunake, was summoned it was found that nothing could be done for the animal and it was destroyed. Curiously enough the shafter, which was encumbered by heavy harness which bound it to the dray, was not injured at all. Tlie dray also was not damaged and was easily recovered from the river. The relatively small amount of damage done is explained to a certain extent by the fact that the bed of the river is sandy.