DEATH OF MR JAS. MINTOSH.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1869, 10 February 1892, Page 3

DEATH OF MR JAS. MINTOSH.

We regret to have to announce that Mr James M'lntosh succumbed to the injuries he received as the result of the late coach accident, and passed away about four o'clock on Saturday morning. Contrary to an expression of opinion in our last issue, which, was inadvertently attributed to Dr Withers, the Doctor, we should explain, felt from the outset that the recovery of his patient was a hopeless eventuality and that nothing, humanly speaking, could save his life. Hundreds, not alone in Tuapeka, but throughout the colonies and even beyond them, all those who have either through the exigencies of business or in the pursuit of pleasure during the last three decades and more, become acquainted with the genial and hearty good fellowship of Mr M'lntosh, will join with us in an 'expression of regret at the tragic and painful nature of his death. As a whip he had, perhaps, no equal, and certainly no rival in the colony. But this is hardly to be wondered at, as during his whole life he had been actively engaged in the handling of horses, and graduated as a driver in this colony in the days when the roads precluded the possibility of any but men of iron nerve and the most expert drivers — born whips, we might almost say — from following an occupation so fertile in disaster and hardship. But Mr M' Jntosh, long before his arrival in the colony, had been buying experience in the following in which he was afterwards to become so well and pleasantly known. For two years before he set out for hi 3 new home, he had been engaged driving the Queen's mail from Blairgowrie toßalmoral,the Scottish residence of Her Majesty. That in itself was not by any means a bad record to ,±ake the road with in New Zealand. In 1857 .Mr M'lntosh arrived in Dunedin by -ihe"ship Maori, and in the following year we find him at his congenial occupation packing the mails from Dunedin to Balclutha. That is now something more than thirty years ago. Before he had been long engaged at this primitive method of transport, he decided on entering the coaching business on his own account. As a preliminary or preparatory step, he took service with Oobb and Co., in whose hands the coaching business of the colony then was, and became known on the road between Dunedin and Balclutha as a dashing and, at the same time, a most skilful and reliable driver — as the veritable king of the Southern road, in fact, just as his friend Ned Devine ruled the destinies of the Northern road^ Later on, in 1862, he commenced driving for Messrs Lee, Cole and Hoyt, with his usual success. When Mr Chaplin sub* sequently bought out the concern, he retained the services of Mr M'lntosh, who j continued with Mr Chaplin until about fourteen years ago, when the latter sold out to Messrs H. Craig and Co., Mr M'lntosh being a partner of the firm. Of Mr M'lntosh it may be said without exaggeration that while he made troops of friends he made no enemies. Like most men of his class, and particularly those of the old sphool ? he was open and frank, and was known, for his unfailing kindness and attention to travellers. His life, it need hardly be said, was a hard one, full of hardship and risk, but these things made no change in Mr M'lntosh's manner or disposition f and were it not for the untoward accident which overtook him, he might, with his powerful physique and robust health, have continued/for many years longer to

follow the occupation he loved so well, and in which he had so few equals. He leaves a wife and a grown-up family of two sous and three daughters to mourn :heir loss. Deceased was buried in the Lawrence cemetery on Monday, the funeral being attended by a very large concourse of people from all parts of the Tuapeka County. The ceremony at the grave was performed by the Eev. Mr Jolly.