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Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 58, 1 May 1878, Page 2

Bye^ m; these advanced days of the Nineteenth .Century stage co,ach I tra.vellin.g[- m, New 2ea)a,n,d fe i^ot | \yithaut.jte Uttle drawbacks* ajs the passengers from Masterton to Palrojerstan on. Monday last can bear

witness. It appears that when the coach started off from the former place it had the very respectable livingcargo of thirteen adults, andfive children, not to speak of the dead weight oorf r luggage belonging^ s<i) many ; , Accident w^ es- ; eaped^iintil a river between Ekatahuna and Woodville was crossed, but m ascending a steep hill the strain r pn the king-bolt' was" tpo "great^ afi)d the five horses with th 6 f ore-^paft of the coach attached, upon" which the driyer.was perched aloft, tore up the hilt, while the body with its living freight rolled backward into "the water. Before proceeding far the driver thrown' to/ the ground, but manfully sticking to the reins, succeeded m pulling up the runaways. All the passengers had to alight, and" the lady portion proceeded on i'oot' for , about,, two; miles, tt while -the coach ivas joined together again, a freshibolt secured, and the damaged , vehicle, f further strengthend with ropes. Oh arrival at Woodville, howeyerj it was found thaf;' the Napier^eoiEicli had brought a 'huniber. of passengers whi<jh s should 'be ac^ oomni.od»ted, apd : the r /|;np^ |hrough the' Q;orge waa^'^ndertftken'-^with every ; ■jfchtf "" bM- "seat !^Shd ; inside, of the 06jiiveyanoe ,utilised," two 'pbrsons stretched on the luggage v on: top, six on the seat behind, with one standing upon the step. We may state that although the gentleman who was aocommcK tiatedi (with jthe* step may appear i 0 have fared badly, m his own opinion he had : secured the pibked' position,, inasmuch as when the poach ... turned and rolled when goiiig through the.; &orge^ i^e momentarily expected to see it topple over^ and He;jjoonsequently was prepared to vacate his position f on [the; ?-shortest?yii6tice. 1 "Where ignorarice is bliss,- tis-foUy to be wise," but had iilie'"two strangers oo.mf ort^bly stretched on . ; top been awa.re 5 at ite 'dangei?, Qt had], they made the V jowhey^befdlfe m. davlight,^ they WQ^l4;;\nat"'''luvye':^ o^r'iiifpr^antt^whb ia Sin iblcf stager < ■'—^havo?^possession of the st^p so quietly. B[o^ever the ooaoh with; no less than twenty-one adults and five children drove into vto wn witter out further xnishap, l)i|it r we^iuain-'^ tajix, tliat putting aside^f f hej yenieuce, to pivssfengiß^sTj the" ,oiii(elty ; 'tQ: th«; ; Ahii|na}^' it Jjs.^ ; ipaoreover a direct ';t^m^uagt of UPmvidenoe! to drive>^wugh4he Gorge withl a tap.: heSviV and- overladen > conve vanbel ;