STOPPING A MAIL COACH.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 110, 9 May 1874, Page 2

STOPPING A MAIL COACH.

Our telegrams recently informed us that a Mr M'Donald had taken the liberty of shooting one of the leaders of the Napier mail coach. The history of the affair is thus given by the Wanganui correspondent of the Wellington Indcpedent : —

The telegraph has no doubt already informed you of some of (he facts connected with the stoppage of the Napier mail. In my previous letter I informed you of the preparations made by Mr A. Youug for starting the line. He had, however, determined to personally superintend the operation, and for this purpose overtook the coach driven by Mr M'Kenzie, at Bull's, on Thursday, The coach halted for a few minutes at Schultze's Awahuri Hotel, where Mr Young received the congratulations of Messrs Schultze, Bull, and several others. As usual on such occasions, Mr Young "shouted for all hands" Inside the public-house a conversation took place between Mr Alexander McDonald, Mr Youngand Mr M'Kenzie. Mr M'Donald wanted to proceed to Palmerston, but was informed that the coach, was full, and that no passengers could be carried. Mr M'Donald was much irritated at the refusal, and bounceably told Mr M'Kenzie, the driver, that he had seen better men than he and his "hoss" drowned in the river. Mr Young banteringly replied that he was better than any drowned man, being alive, whereupon M'Donald muttered that he had only to hold up his finger, and the mail would be stopped. He seems to have then gone upstairs into Mr {"'chulize's bedroom, taken therefrom a loaded gun, and awaited the coach on Oroua bridge, which is only n few yarda from the house. It was surmised by the people present that he merely intended to fire a sort of salute of welcome, and little notice was taken of Lib proceedings. The coach started, and the leading horses had just got on the bridge, when M'Donald fired from the hip, wounding one of the leaders immediately over the eye. Mr Young and the driver, fearing that the gun was being aimed at them, swayed about to avoid the shot. Mr Young jumped down, examined the wound, and found that the ball had taken a downward course. Assisted by the bystanders, he removed the horse, and backed the coach, so as to allow room to turn. The following conversation then took plsce between him and M'Donald :—

Young : This is a strnnge thing to happen on Her Majesty's highway.

M'Donald : I am king hero. Young: Then what would yur majesty wis 1 ! me to do?

M'Donald: Return by the wny whence you come.

Young : I have Her Majesty's mails on board. Am Ito proceed ?

M'Donald : No mail shall pass t is bridgo unless it goes over my neck. We have no grudge against you ; I like you, and I'll carry you over the bridge on my back, and all the Maoris like you.

Young : Do you want to shoot auy more of my horses, b£cause if you do I'll take them out, and you can have a fair shot at them, but don't shoot them on the bridge or they may jump over. M'Donaid : If I had another shot I'd shoot another, but I have no grudge against you. I thought the poor brute would have died sooner. If you like, I'll pay you for the horse at once.

M'Donald then threw down his hat, and danced about in the Maori fashion, brandishing the gun, and uttering Maori war-cries. He went up to the horse, and said in Maori, " This thing is good, ' an expression which was repeated by one of the natives present. Mr Young asked a chief whom he knew if it was safe to proceed, and was advised to return. The coach was then turned round. Mr Young said to M'Donald, "Good doming, Your Majeßty," and was about to leave, when Mr Bull came up, and said, "Good God, M'Donald, what have you done. This is a frightful affair ; you surely don't mean any harm to Young ?" M'Donald replied that be did not. Mr Young says that all the Maoris present condemned- the act, and he believes himself that it was a mad act committed under the influence of annoyance at the refusal to convey M'Donald in the coach to Palmerston. As the presumed chief of the native tribe at this place, M'Donald probably expected to be received with considerable homage. It is said, however, that he had been drinking to excess. Mr Young is convinced that do political significance can be attached to the affair.

M'Donald has since been arrested under the Malicious Injuries to Property Act, and committed for trial, but admitted to bail, himself in £1000, aod two sureties of £500 each.