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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume X, Issue 226, 7 September 1875, Page 2

An extraordinary coaching incident is recorded from Tatanaki. On a recent occasion when the coach was about to start, the sole passenger got inside and made himself comfortable for a nap. While indulging in this way the coach started, and beyond a dreamy idea that they were going fast down bill, the paasenger thought all was right. After eight miles of very bad road had been rapidly traversed, the coach baited at the first place of call. The ostler came out with water for the horses, and mine host came out to see if the bipeda wanted anything stronger. Judge of their astonishment at finding that the box-aeafi was unoccupied, and the reins fastened to the break, the only human beiog on the coach being the inside passenger. It appeared that when the team was harnessed the driver had as usual hitched the reins around the break and left the horses. These without waiting for the driver started off in the dark on their own account, and made the first stage at a rattling pace. That they did so without accident is almost a miracle, for the eight miles of road traversed is about the worst and most dangerous piece between Wellington and New Plymouth. —Foat. The Sydney Morning Herald pays a well-deserved tribute of respect to t*ie memory of (he late Commodore Goodenough, when it says: — "It is ours to lament the loss of one of the ablest and one of the most popular of the Commodores who have visited this part of the world. It is not as a-Com-modore alone that the gentleman whose massacre we deplore has made himself known in Australia and Polynesia. In the sphere of philanthropy and in other departments of public service, besides that to which he particularly belonged, the late Commodore was well-known and honorably distinguished. A large amount of the preparatory work in connection with the annexation of Fiji was done by Commodore Goodenougb. Missionaries of various kinds throughout the South Seas have borne testimony to the sympathy and support they have received from the Commodore. The work of temperance in this city and elsewhere was forwarded by the Commodore's personal example and public suport. la private intercourse the Commodore was a genial companion and a disinterested friend. It is well known that he took a profound interest in the work of protecting and humanising the natives of the South Seas. In the prosecution of this task the Commodore spent the last years of his life, and in it his life bas I been so sacrificed. Lives so spent and | so ended are their own panegyric."