Street Diversions.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7710, 12 January 1905, Page 2

Street Diversions.

Three Runaways in Succession. l''or a few minutes on Weduesduy afternoon the usual orderly course of events in Devon Street assumed a |cliaotic state of excitement highly diverting, yet withal tinged with serious possibilities of tragedy The incident opened with the sudden departure of a horse and trap standing in Devon Street East toward tho lied House Hotel, where, however, the rush came to a sudden stop owing to the horse being caught. The clatter of the lirst runaway had meanwhile startled another pony in a light trap, and the animal set oft at a break-neck pace toward, the centre of the town. There was a good deal of traflic on the street, but by dint of much hurried manipulation of reins a free passage was opened up for the flying equine, which pursued its way, uninterrupted, to the Coffee Palace corner. Here the runaway •decided upon a change of course ami steered past the cubs on the stand into Kgmont Street, where it was shortly captured, and brought to a standstill. .As it passed the corner the driver of one of the cnl>s essayed to arrest the driverless animal, and left his vehicle to do so. His own team tooG fright, and made off down the street, across the railway line, and up as far as the Old Curiosity Shop. Here the horses apparently found the roadway unpleasant to their feet and decided to taKe to the pavement, which they did, negotiating a crossing and passing under a verandah without mishap, only to be brought up standing by onlookers. During their run lower down the street they unceremoniously scraped acquaintance with a light cart standing on the tide of the roadway, but no damage resulted. It was indeed remarkable that the whole commotion should have ended without o casualty, hut such is fortunately a fact. Damage to vehicles and harness was practically nil.