THE COACHING DAYS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 59, 10 March 1944, Page 4

THE COACHING DAYS

LINK SEVERED BY DEATH OF MR. T. NEWMAN (P.A.) Nelson, March 9. The death has occurred of Mr Thomas Newman, aged 84, whose name is bound up with the history of transport in Nelson, Marlborough, the West Coast and Canterbury. He was the first and last man to drive coaches in this area and the first tc. arrive in Nelson in an aeroplane. He drove, the first and last coaches to Murchison and was the first to land a plane in Murchison. He and his brother Harry founded the firm of Newman Brothers, well known in the travel service. Mr. Thomas Newman became interested in transport early in life, and at the age of 15 acquired a horse and dray to carry firewood. The brothers commencing waggoning between Nelson and Murchison on the old cordoroy roads. In 1878 they made the first trip in a coach to Murchison carrying mail, and in 1882 look the first mail to the Lyell goldmining township, in the Buller Gorge. Later they extended the service to Westport. Several teams were lost in the ? /flooded Buller. During the coaching days the Newman Brothers were known throughout the Dominion for their fine teams of horses on the Nelson-Blenheim route. Ever since the early days Mr. Newman has been a supporter of racing. In 1882 the horse Daybreak was driven in a coach to Murchison and on the following flay won the Hampden Cup at the races. The last 20 of [the coach horses were sold in 1918, I when motor transport was adopted. I He leaves a widow, four sons and one daughter.