BOROUGH COUNCILLOR'S PROPHESY FULFILLED

Taupo Times, Volume III, Issue 124, 11 June 1954, Page 1

BOROUGH COUNCILLOR'S PROPHESY FULFILLED

CAR PASSENGER INJURED WHEN TRUCK HITS HORSE

At the Borough Council meeting on Wednesday night, June 2, Cr. C. S. Currie, in a discussion of the problem posed by straying horses, stated that the Council should not have to put up with horses on the roads. There had not yet been a serious accident but there would be if something were not done. They should go ahead and really enforce the by-laws re horses. Within a few minutes of Cr. Currie's statement, a light truck driven by Mr Brian Wilson, with Messrs. D. J. McCleary and P. McNicholas as passengers, was hit by a horse on the Rotokawa Road near the Rifle Range Road intersection. Mr Wilson stated that near the Golf Links he saw a horse emerge onto the road and applied his brakes, slowing the truck to about ten miles per hour. The horse crossed the road, when suddenly another horse, which appeared to be a yearling, dashed out of the scrub in front of the truck. He swerved, but the animal hit the truck, its head entering the righthand side of the car and hitting Mr McCleary, who was the outside passenger. The glass side-screen was smashed and flying fragments hit all three occpants. Mr McCleary received cuts on head and face, and a fragment of glass cut completely through his upper lip. Bleeding profusely, Mr McCleary was at once taken to town for medical atten-

tion and had several stitches inserted in his lip. Mr McNicholas found a fragment of glass in his mouth, but was not injured. Seen on Thursday morning, the vehicle was spattered on the right hand side with blood, the door-panel was crushed inward, there were horsehairs adhering to the car, and it was obvious that the occupants were lucky to escape without more serious, injuries. On the day following the accident, three residents reported to the "Times" damage done to their properties in the previous two days by wandering horses. One resident expressed the opinion that anyone who saw straying "brumbies" anywhere close outside the Borough boundaries would be rendering a public service if they zhzi them. _'t