A BOLTING HORSE

Hokitika Guardian, 23 September 1932, Page 6

A BOLTING HORSE

DRIVER INJURED. , ANIMAH ESCAPES LIGHTLY. AUCKLAND, September 20. A frightened horse- dragging a dart behind it bolted down the steep slope 'of Wellington Street shortly before two o*’clock this afternoon, crashed through a fence, and collided in a shattering impact with the front of a house. The driver of the cart, an Indian hawker, Daji Rama, was admitted to hospital suffering from concussion and an injured ankle. The front of the house presented a seen A' of havoc immediately after the Imceidentf A fencing- was flatten^'#'to the ground, a corner verianda ' "i>dlt had been broken off and removed bodily, and the cart was nesting against shattered woodwork and the glass of a hay window. Ofie shaft o-f the cart had pierced the front window pane, dragged down the curtains and pole on the inside, and emerged 1 through the glass -pane at the ‘side. In addition to the windows -broken iby the shaft of the' cart other ;paiies were shattered to -pieces by ‘the force o-f the impact. Stout woodwork was splintered and the heavy weight and sash cord swung exposed. The horse red to escape lightly, and was led away." r

‘T saw the horse dashing down the ‘hill -and called to the' driver to- pull the- reins,” said a woman eye-witness, “but' I think the' driver-had ' fainted, because' lie- seemed 'to be 'lyih<y back and the 'reins were loose. ' Thefi there! was a terrib-Ie crash as they struck the house.” Another * 'hysta'rider Waiff rhie saw the: 'horse a-nd' cart careering out of control and ran down ' the road behind lit. Then it mounted the fdot-path and, crashed though the fence. When he arrived 1 the driver was .lying in the bottom of the cart. The damaged dwelling, which is on the corner of Wellington and Howe Street, is owned by Mr T. Reid, who is visiting England. Miss Rogers, who is occupying it in the owner’s absence, said site was at thiei Lock df the house with visitors when the impact occurred. The whole house shook as though there was an earthquake. She ran to the front and saw what had occurred. A crowd soon gathered, and while some tended to the driver others released the horse.

■ Beyond the tealring down of the curtains by the shaft of the cart no damage was caused inside the room.