THE TAIERI ACCIDENT.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 741, 24 November 1870, Page 2

THE TAIERI ACCIDENT.

The following account of the recent lamentahle coach accident at the Taieri is from the " Otago Daily Times " :

The report of the overturning of the Tokoinairiro coach on the 9th inst., and the killing of Mr iiyrie, a passenger, thereby, turus out to be unfortunately too true. It appears that the vehicle was the mail coach going to Tokomairiro, having on board 14 passengers —3 on the box, 3 on the back" scat, and 8 inside. It was driven by Mr Henry Nettlefold, a well-known, experienced, and careful driver, who' has been engaged for 19 years as driver and road manager for Cobb and Co. On arriving about one mile and a half beyond the Taieri Ferry, or 23 miles from Dunedin, the nut, from some unexplained cause, fell from the axle, and the near fore wheel came off, the coach tipping over inwards towards the bank on the side of the road. The king bolt, which is made loose, as a precaution against similar accidents fell out, and the horses went away with the fore carriage, leaving the body of the coach on its side. It appears that the deceased was sitting on the near side end of the box, and that when the coach overset he held on to the guard rail, being thereby swung round and falling on his back. As the coach overturned, the corner of the box seat came on his chest, his head and shoulders being under the coach and the remainder of his body lying at an angle outside. Mr Nettlefold, with the assistance of some of the passengers, lifted up the coach from him, and bathed his head with water, but to no avail, for after gasping a few breaths, the unfortunate man expired. He was at once carried to the Taieri Ferry Hotel, and a messenger sent on to Tokomairiro with a telegram to Mr Mansfield. On its receipt, that gentleman started at once for the scene of the disaster, and remained there until yesterday, when an inquest was held before Mr Dewe, the coroner for the district. The facts of the case were elicited from Mr Keal], "Wesleyan minister of Lawrence, who was a passenger by the coach, and who attended to give evidence. The verdict was that the deceased had been accidentally killed by the overturning of a coach, and a rider was attached to the effect that no blame was attributable either to the driver or to the proprietors of the coach. The remains were interred in the Balclutha Cemetery on Friday, the 11th instant. The unfortunate gentleman held a highly respectable commercial position in the township, and was much respected by all classes. A large number of settlers and residents attended the funeral. Owing to the peculiar circumstances of the case, much commiseration is generally felt for his widow.