ACCIDENT TO RAHOTU COACH ON OMATA HILL.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8275, 22 September 1888, Page 2

ACCIDENT TO RAHOTU COACH ON OMATA HILL.

COACH CAPSIZED AND COMPLETE WREOK. HORSES BOLTED. ONE PASSENGER SERIOUSLY HURT. An accident happened to the Rahotu , coach as it was coming into town this (Saturday) morning, whereby the passengers were much shaken aad one seriously hart. The owner or tbe coach, Mr MoCullum, is a great loser by the accident, as the vehicle was completely Btnftshed op. Tbe Omata hill is a very steep place for a trap to come down, and where most careful driving is required, even by experienced whips. At about half-past nine o'clock this (Saturday) momma: Mr McCullum, the driver, commenced to descend the hill with his coach — a four wheeler, covered in — drawn by four borßes. He had in it three male passengers on the box, besides himself, and some six female passengers, three babieß and two little girls as inside paßEengers; there was also another man named Neileon riding on the step. There was also a quantity 'of cargo on board, amongst which were several kegs of butter. After getting down the hill some distance, the driver, ia trying to pass a flax wagon, driven by Mr. C. Billing, 6nd owned by Mr. A. Bayly, which was goinsr down the hill also, let one of tbe wheels of tbe coach go in a deep rat, and before the uassengers could realise the danger the coach was precipitated on to its left side. The horseß bolted with some of the understructure and one of the front wheels ap the other side of the hill and on as far as Moturoa, where they were pulled up outside Mr. Putt's farm. When the coach was going over, Mr. Brown, who was sitting on the left side of the box seat, with Mr. Sutton, of Pungarehu, and another between him and the driver, made an attempt to jump oft, so as to get clear of the vehicle, when he fell, and one of the left wheels of the conveyance came on top of him, as well as the whole weight of the coach. When looked for by tbe other male passengers and the driver, Mr. Brown was found in this position. The wheel waa taken off, and it was at once apparent that he bad received severe injuries. Several settlers came up directly after the accident, and in Mr. Greenway's cart Mr. Brown was taken to town for medical treatment. How the driver und the others on the box seat escaped injury is a miracle, and how the inside passengers, all females, came off so luckily is a greater one. Except Mr. Brown and one of tbe inside passengers, who had her side jambbd against a butter keg, all seem to have escaped with nothing worse than a nasty shaking up. THK COACH itself is a complete wreck, and Mr. McCullum was therefore unable to continue tbe journey to town. This accident, from a financial point of view, will also be a severe blow to him. As far os can bb learned there is not the slightest blame attached to tho driver for the accident, it being one of those peculiar casualties foi which no special cause can be assigned. THE INJOBED PASSSNGBR. Mr Henry Brown, of Rahotu, the injured passenger, was conveyed into town by Mr Greenway in bis trap, Captain Mace also coming in the same vehicle. Mr Brown was taken to the Beach House Hotel, and Dr. O'Carroll sent for, who was soon in attendance on him. The doctor found that the injury from which Mr Brown suffered was concussion of tbe spine about tbe small of the back, while on either side of his body were extensire bruisep, all the result of being pinned to the ground by one o£ the lef^wheols of the coach when it capsized. Dr. O'Carroll did all in his power to alleviate the man's pain. Subsequent development would doubtless Rive a better idea of the ultimate rzsult of the injury. Mr Richardson went out with a trip, and brought the coach into Me tare. Lashbrook & Fry's wheelwright and gencial blacksmith's chop ia Currie-street for repairs. Tbe top oC the couch WttS smasned off, and the two front wheels with all tha fore structure were detached from the body. It seems that the four horses went away with the pole and part of the under-strncture for half a mile at a great pace, until they collupsed preßutmbly through one of the leaders tripping up at Mr Pratt's farm. One of the pole horses was severely kn eked about, and it is thought that it will have to be shot. List of passengers by the coacu. The inside passengers were Mesdames J. Watt and child, Coldrick und 2 children, J. Clark and child, E. Looney and child, and Miss Carrington. Messrs SuttQn and Brown were oa the box, and Mr Neileon was behind, the former of whom comeß from Kahotu. THE DRIVER'S ACCOUNT. Mr McCullum, the driver of the coach, states that he was coming down the bill when ho saw a wagon, driven by Mr Billing, in front of him going; down tha hill also. He slowed up the horses, and went to pans the wagon on the left side. He was almost pnßt tbe wagon when the npokes of the left front wheel suddenly collapsed through the wheel going into a rut, and, the weight of the coach coming down, the coach overturned. He got off somehow and stuck to the horses, who had gone away with the front carriage for about three chains, bit ac they increased their pace and he could not pull them up he had to let them go. He then returned and saw all the passengers out of tbe coach, Mr Brown bein^ tht only one lying on the ground injured. Mrs Coldriok complained of her shoulder being hurt, but he heard no other seirous complaints. . He> cannot assign an}' reason for the' wheel giving way so suddenly as the coach was thorougly overhauled a few months ago. One of the pola hmes was so eerioußly injured that it whs found necessary to shoot htm. Mr M-jOullum got another vehicle in town ami was enabled to run out to Rihotu in the afternoon aa usual. He has no Hoa how Mr Brown, who lies in nrjch the Bame condition, mat with his inj'iry.