SERIOUS COACH ACCIDENT.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 87, 29 October 1879, Page 2

SERIOUS COACH ACCIDENT.

■ An accident of a most serious character," but fortunately-unattended with fatal results, tob^'l^c^ og,. Saturday afternoon at Terrace End. A special coach, containing about nineteen Jfcfaoris, both men and women, who were returning from the late Lands Court at Napier, had just arrived m town, and when rounding from Main into Terrace 6treefc, one of the 'wheels Bun£ into a hole, causing the vehicle to turn completely over. The moment theCups^ teofe' place, of co.urae the pii* *sepu,rin^ the, foije- ' part ! of the coach dropped yout^jand t,he horses being thus set free, scampered up the street to { the surprise, terror, and danger • of pedestrians. Amongst those on the coach were Honi Meihana, Chief of- the Etangatanas; Governor Huuia, Chief of the Nagatiapa tribs ; T^ptfca, Tarita Samuel, and several other .Maoris belonging to and well-fcriowri'in the. district. Tapitai who was; seated upon the top of the vehicle, I was thrown to'thegrouud with great force and ha<i her forehead badly cut; Honi Ma9on was considerably bruised about the legs; while the driver, George Hunter, had : his hands sadly .lacerated m his endeavor.* '.■to cling to '' 'h%} horse?. The moment the : accident occurred, a messenger- was dis ■ •patched fpr medical assistaoce, and Dr. liters was quickly m attendanpe,.and ad^ ; | iiinistered t© the wants of the^ sufferers some, of whom are still m his charge, and

m that of Dr. Maclaohlan. Although att the passengers were more or less »haken, and a few bauly bruised, there were no, injuries received which a couple of weeks will not repair. When it is considered th*t the coach with its load of humanity had; passed through the Manawatu Gorge, it ia not pleasant to think what would have been j the result had the accident* occurred whilo going through that perilous portion of the journey. 'Hunter u^s: most careful driyerand there can be no doubt that the cauaeof the^accident is m a great measure attrU butable. to the-obstinacy of _tlift..,Nafcive|; themselves m crowding upon the. top of .the vehicle. ... The coach was considerably damaged, but as it was a special one, it did; not interfere with the, running of the ordi^. nary mails to either, Napier or Mastectoo*.