The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. MONDAY, MARCH 29, 1880.

Kumara Times, Issue 1090, 29 March 1880, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. MONDAY, MARCH 29, 1880.

The late distressing accident by which a number of persons, chiefly children, have been mained and disfigured, even should no more serious consequences eventually ensue, is one that calls for more than passing comment, inasmuch as it clearly points to the utter inadequacy of the appliances provided for retarding the motions of vehicles at the very moment when probably they are most required. In this instance a number of children, doubtless actuated like most children are with a desire for r a ride, no matter the mode of conveyance, appeal to the driver of a hearse returning from a funeral to secure their coveted wishes. The driver, good naturedly, though to our mind most injudiciously, accedes to their request, and a seat, which at the most is supposed to contain only three persons, is made to do duty for half-a-dozen. In descending Sandy's Hill the break of the vehicle in question suddenly becomes utterly useless, and the entire weight of the whole conveyance and its load is at once thrown oh the horses (which, in common with another, absurd colonial custom, are unprovided with breeching to their harness). The vehicle, despite the exertions of the driver, rapidly increases its velocity and the horses thereby become nnmanagable; a crush ensues, and in a few seconds those who were iu the bloom of health a minute previously are laying prostrate and injured on the road. Had the same thing occurred to one of the heavily-laden pas-

senger coaches we often see descending the same hill, the consequences would be frightful to contemplate. And yet, without for one moment wishing to appear alarmists, it may be only reasoable to suppose that the same thing may occur again to-morrow, so long as only the ordinary break continues in use. We contend that in the public interests some means should be tlevised-, say an extra or safety break> working in rear of the hind wheels, irrespective of the one now so frequently used, which could be available instantaneously when an accident rendered the ordinary one useless; and were such means adopted, or had the horses been provided with breeching, we feel assured we should never have been called on to chronicle the sad occurrence which a few days suddenly plunged several families into the depths of bitter and distressing affliction.