SERIOUS COACH ACCIDENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4309, 12 January 1875, Page 3

SERIOUS COACH ACCIDENT.

(From the Wanganui Evening Herald, Jan. 6.) Yesterday afternoon an accident, accompanied witli distressing results, occurred to one of Folder's coaches which was on its way to Aramohd. The conveyance left town with the following passengers on board : —Dr. Buller and son, Dr. Curie, Messrs. Powell, sen., Hsnter (a commercial traveller from Auckland), S. H. Drew, and A. McMinn: The pace was unnecessarily fast, several horsemen who were ahead finding considerable difficulty in keeping out of the way. Across the bridges, down and up the hills, and over the roughest of the road, where the ruts were deep, and the intervening elevations numerous and dangerous, the horses were urged rapidly on, the passengers complaining of the severe jolting to which they were subjected, and of the reckless manner in which they were being driven. One of the horses, too, noted previously as a restive and dangerous animal, gave the,driver considerable trouble, and the occupants of the coach noticed with alarm his constant attempts to shy off the road, and the difficulty experienced by the driver in controlling him. At this rapid pace, the road was traversed, till a spot about 500 yards on this side of Aramoho was reached, when, Walker's Hotel being in view, the travellers were beginning to congratulate each other that they would reach their destination in safety. But such they were not destined to do. The coach either took the siding through careless driving, or some portion of the under carriage gave way, which caused the conveyance to run off the road, and in a moment, the occupants were struggling in a heap at the road side, their late conveyance on its side, a total wreck. Most providentially the horses made good their escape, as otherwise, had they remained attached to the coach, in the debris of which the passengers were entangled, a far sadder tale might have to be told. A second or two elapsed before any knew what had occurred, but one after another soon found their feet, the first inquiry being as to the safety of Master Buller. The poor little fellow, whose cries were heartrending, was found to be very severely injured. It is thought that when the coach lurched heavily over, the lad was first thrown out, and that the full weight' of the falling conveyance and of the passengers was.received by him. A frightful gash on his head, from which the blood flowed copiously, was first attended to by Dr. Curie who, himself, escaped with a severe facial contusion. Drs. Earle and Tripe were also in prompt attendance, and assisted in binding up the head of the little sufferer. It was not known at this time what other injuries had been sustained ; but the poor lad's loud cries of "Oh, papa, my arm is broken," led to the discovery that a double compound fracture of that member had been caused. The roof of the broken coach was arranged for a stretcher, many willing hands assisting, and so he was conveyed to the Aramoho Hotel, where he at present lies in a critical state; In addition to the injuries to which we have previously alluded, the poor lad's jaws and face are much contused, and his body i 3 one mass of braises. The broken arm was successfully set last night, the three doctors assisting ; but we regret to hear that today he is still in great pain, the doctors scarcely yet being able to discover the full extent of the injuries received by him. With his father, he only landed here yesterday morning after an absence of several years, and to be thus severely hurt on the firßt day of his visit, has induced a universal expression of sympathy with his father, Dr. Buller, under the distressing circumstances, in which we, sincerely join. Mr. Powell, senior, was very 'much shaken, and will probably be laid up for some" time. Mr. Hunter escaped with an ugly scratch over the eye, which bled freely, but like the remaining passengers showed the effects of rough usage, from which they will doubtless Buffer for several days. Tho horses, with the pole, tore madly along the road, but turning sharply into the yard at Walker's, came into contact with a stock-yard post, which succumbed to the shock, and brought the horses to the ground. Before they could rise, they were seized and held by Mr. Chadwick, by whom they were made secure. It is a miracle that

nothing was met or overtaken, in which casej a fearful smash must have been the consequence. Further inquiry will probably be made into the causes which led to the accident.