ACCIDENT TO MR ROLLESTON

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1845, 3 May 1884, Page 2

ACCIDENT TO MR ROLLESTON

[BY. TELEGRAPH.— PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Christchorch, Thursday, A serious accident occurred to the Hon. Mr. Rolleston late on Tuesday afternoon. As the coacli, a kind of double-seated buggy, entered a ford leading across the VVaiau River towards St Helens Station, the seat came out with a jerk, caused by a sudden drop from the cutting into the river, and the driver, the Minister for Lands, and Mr W. A. Low, of St. Helens, were pitched over. The driver soon recovered his seat. Mr Low after a little while scrambling on to the pole, and finally mounted one of the wheels ; but Mr Rolleston was carried agiiinab the wheels and rolled over and over under the water. Luckily, after some anxious moments, during which the other occupants of the coach, Mr MoKerrow, the Surveyor-General, and a Christchurch gentleman, who was visiting the hot springs, experienced the uucomfortable sensation of seeing a man drowning almost within reach, whom they were unable to help, Mr Rolleston came to the surface, and made his way to the bank the co.ich had just left. Thence the driver brought him safely over on one of the coach horses, and the hon. gentleman suffered nothing worse than a very cold bath lasting an uncomfortable long time, and all under water His escape was a very narrow one, and as may, perhaps, be remembered, is the second experience of a similar character the Minister for Lands has had within a year or two. On the last occasion Mr Bryce was with him near Parihaka, and had even a narrower escape.