THE LATE COACH ACCIDENT.

Dunstan Times, Issue 626, 17 April 1874, Page 3

THE LATE COACH ACCIDENT.

r,(■ i' r \j 0 Wc relief to learn that the son of Mr. Daniel Anderson, who was injured by the lute''accident to the Tuapeka coach, has since died in the Tuapeka Hospital. An inquest was held, but was adjourned to obtain evidence of some who wore riding : on the box. Mr. Anderson, while giving evidence,, fainted The Coroner said coach accidents were becoming, so frequent that it was necessary there should be a thorough investigation into the case. 'the following is the evidence nf the driver of the coach:— William Duff deposed : I am a coachdriver in the employment of Cobb and Co. John Chaplain is one of the partners, and Job Wain is reputed also to be a partner Recollect last Saturday, the 4th inst. Left .Clyde that morning, at 5 o’clock. Was .driving one nf Cobb and Co.’s coaches for Lawrence. The coach was licensed, and bore Ihe inscription, “ Licensed to carry twelve passengers—nine inside anil three out. Had only been driving this particular coach about three weeks. “ Cobb and Co.” was tainted in large letters on the back. Never saw the license, Left Clyde with the following passengers:—Mr. and Mrs. , Anderson and four children, Miss Aim-, bridge (Clyde to Dunedin), Miss Williams (Clyde to’ Alexandra). The age of the children, judging from appearance, would be from live to nine years. Picked up four Chinamen passengers at Spear-grass Plat, • and two at Alexandra. Remember coming to the Beaumout-hill,which is situate about one mile and a half or two miles from the Bi aumont Punt. It was about half-past 4 when I arrived there, and I was in good time. Would not be certain how many passengers were on the box at. that time. There were Mrs. Anderson, Miss Aimbridge, and one or two children. There were two children on the box before 1 reached Rae’s. Have viewed the body of deceased, but could not identify it, Started at a walking pace at top of hill, and went at the same pace about fifty yards, when the brake broke. Applied the brake as soon as 1 commenced the descent. 1 fell forward on the footboard, and when I regained my seat the hursts, four in number, were going at full speed. The road was not straight, but had curves in it. Remember trying to steer the horses round the corner, but cannot remember whether I did so. The next thing I remember was being at M’Beath’s hotel, Beaumont Ferry, on the following morning. It is the duty of the driver to see that his coach is in proper order before it starts. I xamined the coach at Clyde oii'Friday, with the blacksmith, and found nothing wrong, except one of the bolts of the fore-carriage. This had nothing to do j with the brake. Have been coach-driving about three years, but only about three weeks in this Province. The'coach was a good one : neither old nor new. Kxatninod the wheels at each stage, to sec if they required oilin . The brake was not examined i by me after 1 left Clyde, The brake was a good one, and of the usual kind. The leather was good, and was put on the brake on Thursday morning, by the groom at j Cobb's stables, Lawrence. The brake acted when I fust started to go down bill, and till it broke. The brake was all 1 had to rely upon to back the coach. The horses , | had not breeching on, owing to the inconvenience of using it where the roads are b id. Horses with breeching on are more confined together. The ruts are very had i on the road in question, and a di iVei has to endeavor to keep Ins horses out of them. Had the horses breeching on when I started from the crown of the hid, the accident would have occurred the same, as the horses 1 could not have steadied themselves, having got into full swing. Had the horses had breeching on they would have steadied the polo better, but would not otherwise have prevented the accident. Could uot have taken the coach down the hill with breeching and withoui brake. The brake had two handles—one each side of the coach. There was no assistance given by the brake on the other side from which I was sitting Asked Mr. 4nder«m to coma outside with me, as the roads were rather heavy, and, in case of accident, he could give me a hand ; but none of the females would go inside because of the Chinamen. Mrs. Anderson was nearest the brake. The horses were all quiet, and 1 had no trouble with them till I came to the hill. The distance from'where the brake broke to the bottom of the hill would be about a quarter of a mile, part of which Was not very s‘ecp. The harness, up to the time of accident, was perfect. The same brake was broken before while I was driving the coach, when 1 had my foot on it. It broke at the upper part, where the foot goes. Hail it repaired. Am not aware of its having been broken before. There are o her coaches onthe same road belonging to Yeend and Pope ; but I am not aware that their horses carry breeching. Think that had there been a man instead of a woman on the box, it would have helped to prevent the accident.