A CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2622, 2 May 1889, Page 2

A CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS.

Ox Monday evening, as Mr J. P. Thomson, of Cambridge, was returning from Rotorangi about 5 p.m., he met with a nasty acdident. Ho was driving his buggy and had uoarly crossed the swamp road when his mare shied at two sacks that lay upon it, and ran back. The road at that point is very narrow with a deep drain on either side. Feeling sure that the horse' and buggy would go into one of these, Mr Thomson made a spring, and, although encumbered with a heavy top-coat, managed to get clear of the vehicle. He alighted upon tho very edge of tho drain, and as he did so, he hoard the horse and buggy tumble into it. At this point the drain is about nine feet deep, and in falling the horse got one of its hind legs jammed in one of the front wheels of the buggy, consequently the poor creature could not keep its head above the water, and was drowned. Mr Thomson seeing that the wheel held the horse's leg, got down into the drain and endeavoured to extricate it by breaking the spokes, but although he jumped upon them he could not break a singlo one, and ho had to witness the animal's dying struggles. He then walked back to Kutnrangi, _ and Mr Grioti's man drove him into Cambridge, The next morning the buggy was got out of tho drain, and MrlJrice's diiver, named Thomas Moiscley, took it into Cambridge behind a waggon and left it with Messrs Voung and .Yixon. He then started to drive homo, but when going down Ivirkwood's hill the break would not act, and tho waggon pushed the horses into a gallop and liiydly upset ncav the ((arapiro bridge, throwing the driver out and breaking his legju.it above tho anklo. He was removed to his father's house in Grey-street, and was attended by Dr. Cushney, and is doing as well as can be expected. The horses were not injured, but the waggon was completely smashed. We understand that Mr Thomson intends taking Counsel's opinion as to the liabilty of tho Waipa County Council for not having the swaiflp road fqnped in its most dangerous parts, and in the event of the opinion being favourable, he will at onca cause proceedings to be instituted for damages.