COACH ACCIDENT.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 350, 25 April 1874, Page 2

COACH ACCIDENT.

ADJOURNED CORONER'S INQUEST.

Wednesday, 22nd Apbil. The roll of jurors impanneled on this inquest was called over. Wm. Jamison was called three times when his name occurred on the roll, and af tei* the roll had been called did not answer to his name. His Worship said two courses were open to him — one to eßtreat the recognizance, in which case £50 would be lost, and Supreme Court costs ; or to adjourn the case with the consent of the jury. Adjourned till 10 o'clock. At 10 o'clock, the roll being again called, the Foreman (Mr. Herbert) and Mr. Meyar were absent. His Worship observed that though he had a very intelligent jury impanneled, it was not the most ruly one he had. had to deal with. After a short delay th& absent jurors appeared. Mr. M'Coy appeared to watch the proceedings for Chaplin and Co, Daniel Anderson, whose evidence had been before partially taken, deposed — I am manager of Bellamy Station. I recollect Saturday, 4th April. I left Clyde that morning by coach for Bellamy Station, about four mile* from Lawrence. There were four horses in the coach. William Duff was the driver. I travelled safely to the top of a hill about two miles from the Beaumont junction. The coach then commenced to. descend on this side. The coach started at a trot from the top of the- hilL It was a good trotting pace. The two girls were with me on. the back seat of the coach inside. There were three seats inside. Three Chinamen were oil the middle seat, and three on the front seat. The elder of the two girls was seven ami a balf years old, the other six years. Mrs. Andersdn was on tlie box seat, two boys, one of whom is deceased, and Mies AmbriJge. A Chinaman was on the top from Rae's, where we changed horses, about two miles fvon>the hilL I got in' immediately at Rae'ia. I could not say whether the Chinaman was then on the top. This Chinaman was not on a seat ; he was on the roof of the roach. The eldest boy was nine years old, the other four years and eleven months. Shortly after starting the horses started to gallop. The Mil was very steep. They galloped about 500 or 600- yards. They,

•went off the road then at the left side, hot. the horses and the coach. The coioh imme : diately capsized on the left side. The body of the coach was dragged about ten or twelve yards, the pole and two forewheels a few yards further. I saw nothing of the horses. I was- not injured. I have a clear recollection of all that occurred. When I day I saw nothing pf the torses, I mean tljey were away. The coach was all .Smashed to pieces. After the occurrence I lilted ,the\two~ f^irla on to theroad. The coach was lower down! I then, assisted by a man whose name I don't know (he was the roadman), lifted Mrs. Anderson on to the road. She was badly bruised. It was some time before she could speak. She is now in the hospital, in consequence, of the injuries she then received. The roadman lifted the little boy on to the road. Th« oldest boy was able to go on to the road himself. I cannot account for the capsizing of coach, or the horses galloping away. I cannot say whether the break was applied or not, as I was inside. I saw from the galloping of the horses that something was wrong. I was not asked at any time to take an outside seat. (William Duffs evidence was read, whien. states that he asked witness to go outside. j This was denied again by the witness.) Could I not Bay how many Chinese there were up td the time of the capsize. The driver was not; to blame, except in driving too fast. Cannot say when the break snapped, whether it was before or after the trotting commenced. Did not see the Chinaman on the roof after leaving Bae's. My memory is not affected by the shock, nor was my power of observation. , By the Jury — I am not much accustomed to coach travelling. I was sitting on the back seat. The curtains were up. The coach waa closed in front. Did not look at the horses till they were galloping. Did not hear the break. I got in at the Teviot, as Mrs. Ander*son was a little sick and wished to get on the box. I have not payed the fare yet. I i|<ge not been asked for it. The driver saiolSfr- \ would charge £7 for the lot, without specify- 3 ing how much for each. I was on the box seat for the first stage from the Dunstan as far as Speargrass Flat. The driver then asked me to ride ahorse to the Teviot. Eronj that place I rode inside. I noticed the handles of the break — one on the mear side and one on the off side of the coach. Henry Telford, livery stable keeper, Law^ rence, deposed — There are two lines of coaches between this and the Dunstan. Chaplin and Co. and Yeend, Pope and Co. are the names by which the proprietors are known. Yeend, Pope aud Co. keep their horses at my stables. I know about the narness of Yeend, Pope and Co. Their coaches have brakes. Ido not remember whether there is a single or double brake on the Dunstan coach. I take the harness off. They had no breeching that I recollect before a week ago on fcho Dunstan coach. I examine the harness every night. Ido not think they had breeching before the accident. I keep carriages for hireT Alexander Allen has charge of the horses. I have twice driven a coach from Tokomairiro to Balclutha. Breeching is not fastened to the pole. The horses can't stride the ruts with breeching.

Alexander Allen, groom for Yeend, Popd and Co., Lawrence, deposed — That company have a coach running from Lawrence to the Dunstan. I have charge of the horses. I harness the horses. This coach has a double brake. They carry brcejhing. This line has "been running about n've weeks. They got breeching at first, but it was too smalL They came down oiiee or twice without it, and hail it onre ov twice before this accident happened. 1L is safer with breeching, as it steadies the pole and helps to keep the weight off the brake. Au adjournment to the Tuapeka Hospital to get Mrs. Anderson's evidence was then made. Agnes Anjerson, wife of Daniel Anderson-, now in Tuapeka Hospital, deposed — Remembered Saturday, 4th April. Was a passenger from Clyde to Bellamy Station on that day. I know Rae's public house. Reached there safely on that day. Remember -a steep hill about a mile and a half this side of Rae's ; we got safely to the top. I was seated on the box with a little one between my knees ; my elder boy beside me. Miss Ambriilge waa also beside me. Thero was one Chinaman oa the top — on the roof of the coach. 3?he coach commenced ty trot pretty briskly from the top of the hill. I got confused a little. Could not say muck more as to the pace. The driver came down on the footboard with his knee. Don't know what caused this. I told my boy to look out. The next thing I remember is that some of the- front coupling gave way ; and the leader on the off side turned his head on the right side. This is the last thing I remember. When the driver fell on the footboard, I think the horses were galloping. I waa excited. I anticipated danger from the pace at which the horses were going, and the steepness of the hiMr- - The horse& were trotting before the brake went. The driver was Bober. He did not at any time ask me to go inside. I think the driver did -what he could to arrest the speed of the horses after he fell. I did not complain of the inside of the coach to the driver. I would not have remained on the box had I known of this steep hill. Ido not remember hearing the break give way. I did not hear the driver ask me to put my foot ou the break.

The jury then returned to the Courthouse ; and, after due consideration of the evidence, arrived at the following verdict : — " That Thomas Anderson came to his death from injuries received by a coach accident on April 4th, 1874, at the Big Hill, about two miles from the Beaumont Ferry." The jury added a ruler to the effect, " That cloae supervision should be exercised in examining all coaches employed in passenger traffic ; that the proprietors should be compelled to have breeching on the pole horses'; that all coaches should have double brakes made of wood and iron, and that they should also be properly tested and marked ; and that it is desirable when there are male passengers travelling, one should sit dtt : tbte- box seat."