STOPPAGE OF THE WELLINGTON AND NAPIER MAIL.—THE LEADER IN COBB'S COACH SHOT.

Waikato Times, Volume VI, Issue 312, 14 May 1874, Page 2

STOPPAGE OF THE WELLINGTON AND NAPIER MAIL.— THE LEADER IN COBB'S COACH SHOT.

Tug Wanijanui Chronicle says :— " On Friday last, the town was throw n into a state of excitement, by the unexpected arrival of Mr Andrew Young, the proprietor of the wellknown mail coaclipa, with intelligence that the mail between Wellington and Napier, just started, had been forcibly stopoed on the Queen's highway, and one of the horses shot by a ' pakeha-Maori ' named Alexander McDonald. The ' news spread rapidly through the town, but the precise facts were not divulged, pending an inquiry which was held by the Resident Magistrate (Major Edwards,) at the Courthouse. The inquiry was attended by Mr Hodge (Mr Young's solicitor), Mr Allen (the Registrar of the Supreme Court), and Mr Andrew Young. The facts detailed below were taken down from Mr Young himself- — He said he left Wanganui on the morning of the 30th April, by the Wellington coach, for Bull's. MrMcKenzie had previously lolt with a coach and four horses for Bull's, where he was joined on Thursday by Mr Young, who purposed personally superintending the junction of the line at the Gorge. Mr McKenzie left Bull's at 2.30 p.m. on Thursday, for Pal merston, with the coach for the new line, with Mr A. Young and Mr Smith, the first through passenger. He proceeded via Sandon to Awhuri, and made a halt at Mr Schultze's Awahuri Hotel. Here they found Mr A. McDonald, Messrs J. Bull, Watkins, several other Europeans, and a few Maoris. After an interchange of congratulations on the starting of the new line, Mr Young treated overy one present to refreshment, Mr McDonald drinking a glass of beer. The following conversation then ensued between- Mr Young and Mr MaDonald :— J Mr McDonald : What is the faro to Palmerston ? I want W to co there. I Mr Young : lam not the driver. Ask McKenzie. Mr McKenzie: This is not a- passenger coach. It is merely placing the coach on the line, and the coach is full! of feed. You had better stop until next trip. Mr McDonald : Well, you won't take me then ? Mr McKenzie : I'm full. There's no room for you. Mr McDonald ; I hare seen better men tuau you and your ' boss ' &t the bottom of the river. Mr Young : Well, they were drowned then. Mr McDonald : Yes, they were drowned. Mr Young : Then they couidn-'t be half as good as we are, because we're alive. Mr Bull : I suppose you go to Palmerston to-night, Mr I McKenzio ? Mr McKenzie : Yes. Mr McDonald here muttered : I've only got to say the word, and it's stopped. Mr Young then had some conversation with Mr Bull regarding a sale of oats, during which Mr McKenzie cried out 'All aboard! Now then, boss, are you coming with me?' The bridge over the Oroua River is only a few yards distant from the Awahuri Hotel, and Mr Young mounted the coach. It was about half-past four o'clock. A Maori was standing at the horses' heads, and at the usual signal from the driver, he let them go. When the coach neared the bridge, Mr Young; observed McDonald -with » gun, -which he held «t the hip. He placed bimself directly in front of the leaders, and levelled the gun. Mr Young and Mr McKenzie were on tho^j box, and they endeavoured to dodge the aim ; but, without saying a word, McDonald filed, hitting one of the leaders over the eye. Mr Young jumped off the coach to examine the horse, and in probing the wound, found that the bullet had penetrated about two inches, taking a downward tendency. He removed the harness, nnd left the hoi se to die. He then said to McDonald : ' Well, do you want to shoot any more horses ? because, if you do, I'll take them out, and you can have a fair shot at them.' Mr McDonald : No, there is only only one barrel loaded, but if I had another I'd shoot the lot. Mr Young : It's a very curious thing that this should occur on her Majesty's highway. Mr McDonald : I am king here. Mr Young : Whafc would your Mnjesty wish me to do ? Mr McDonald: Return by the waj from whence you came. Mr Young : Then lam not to proceed ? I hare got her Majesty's mnil on board. Mr McDonald : I respect you, and so do the Maoris, but no mail shall pass this way. Mr Bull said : For God's sake McDonald, what have jou done? This is a frightful affair. You do not mean uny| harm to Young ? Mr McDonald • No, not to Young. A number of Maoris who were on the spot called out, ' Kavai Young. Mr McDonald then looked at the horse and said, Iho thing is good,' and a native standing near repealed (lie expression. Mr McDonald : We Aiill pay >ou for thY lioisc, jou *1 till not be at the loss of it. I pity the po or hor»e. Itl might it would die sooner. Mr Young, turning to a chief he knew, as-Ked vlint the meaning of the act, and whether it wns bafe lo piuieuf with the coach, to which the native replied he kad berfcareturn, as the act had been done to prei ent Mr Young icturning by that road. The latter stated that ho had no intention oi doing so, but was merely going by the shortest route in order to connect with the line nt the Gorge. Iho chief then said that the horse was shot in order that the Government might take the matter up, and try the question as to the native right over the road. Mr McDonald tben s«id, ' The road, the land, and tha bridge are all our*.' Mr Young removed the horse from the coach, which was turned round and taken to the hotel. He, however, asked. Mr McDonald: 'Do you want anymore? am I nt 1 lbei tyi to resume my journey backwards ?' to which Mr McDonuld replied in the affirmative, adding, 'But if you drive o*er the bridge, you must drive over my neck.' Mr Young was assisted by the natives in removing the horses ; and, on leaving, said to Mr McDonald : ' Good evening, your Majesty. Mr Young then drove hack to Bull's, with the throe hor»e«, arriving there about 5.10 o'clock in the evening, and returned to Wanganui about -i o'clock on the 30th April, when hel communicated with the Resident Magistrate. Mr Young • cool, sensible conduct in the matter is very much approved of. Any act of retaliation would probably have reiulted in very serious consequences. We may add that the gun used by Mr McDonald was the property of Mr Sehullze, and must have been removed from the bed-ioom in the hotel. Mr McDonald is said to havo waited len minutes on the bridge. Mr Young is of opinion that McDonald acted upon the impulse of the moment, under the annoyance caused by the refusal to take him up as » passenger. The native* nt the place almost unanimously condemned McDonald ■ conduct. , - We understand that Mr Young has aJready telegraphed to the Native Minister, and that he will lay a criminal information against McDonald.'