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Newmans Bros.
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DescriptionBy the 1870s, there were driveable routes between Nelson and Blenheim and Nelson and Murchison. In 1876, Thomas and Henry (Harry) Newman bought two six-horse wagons. The Newman brothers built their reputation on reliability and service.
Their first passenger and mail contract was from Foxhill to Longford, near Murchison. On their first run on 1 July 1879, Tom, aged 20, was at the reins with 29 year old Harry beside him. The 120 km, two day journey was memorable in more ways than one. Held up ten miles from their destination, Tom was determined to get the mail through so he put the mailbag over his shoulders and walked - the mail got through!
In the early days, roads had to be cleared of fallen trees and slips by the coach drivers. Bridges did not exist, so the horses and coaches went through the rivers. "Many times the water would gurgle into the coach and the inside passengers would be wondering whether they were not due for a ducking."
By 1904 Newman Brothers ran passenger services between Nelson, Blenheim and Westport. By this time, Tom and Harry owned 10 coaches, wagons and other vehicles (with five running daily), 150 horses and 20 stables along the routes. Each stable had at least one stable hand, with a farrier at the larger establishments.
From 1870 to 1914, the stage coach reigned supreme. In 1911 the Newmans bought their first motor vehicle - a four-cylinder Cadillac. In 1918 the last horse-drawn carriage was retired from service - fittingly with Tom Newman at the reins on the last run between Murchison and Glenhope.
Their first passenger and mail contract was from Foxhill to Longford, near Murchison. On their first run on 1 July 1879, Tom, aged 20, was at the reins with 29 year old Harry beside him. The 120 km, two day journey was memorable in more ways than one. Held up ten miles from their destination, Tom was determined to get the mail through so he put the mailbag over his shoulders and walked - the mail got through!
In the early days, roads had to be cleared of fallen trees and slips by the coach drivers. Bridges did not exist, so the horses and coaches went through the rivers. "Many times the water would gurgle into the coach and the inside passengers would be wondering whether they were not due for a ducking."
By 1904 Newman Brothers ran passenger services between Nelson, Blenheim and Westport. By this time, Tom and Harry owned 10 coaches, wagons and other vehicles (with five running daily), 150 horses and 20 stables along the routes. Each stable had at least one stable hand, with a farrier at the larger establishments.
From 1870 to 1914, the stage coach reigned supreme. In 1911 the Newmans bought their first motor vehicle - a four-cylinder Cadillac. In 1918 the last horse-drawn carriage was retired from service - fittingly with Tom Newman at the reins on the last run between Murchison and Glenhope.
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PersonThoman NewmanHenry Newman
Henry NewmanCategory Information
Category TagtransportMenuBy Topic | Working Life | Business
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West Coast New Zealand History (15th Jun 2015). Newmans Bros.. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 2nd Aug 2026 11:45, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/1091