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ALBUM - Deaths Corner - Christchurch Coach in serious accident.1907.
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DescriptionDEATHS CORNER 1907 – SERIOUS ACCIDENT TO THE CHRISTCHURCH COACH Fifteen on Board and a Child Killed Quite a sensation was caused in Greymouth today when word was received that one of the Christchurch-Otira coaches had capsized and the six-month-old infant son of Mr and Mrs Scott of Greymouth had been killed, with many of the other fourteen on board injured. As 80 passengers left Greymouth in the morning by train relatives were eagerly awaiting news, but none of an authentic nature could be obtained. Word was received that a special train would arrive in Greymouth from 9.30 and the station was lined with people. It was found that only Mrs Scott, Mrs Kellar and the dead child were passengers, the others in the coach proceeding to Christchurch by a special coach. The passengers will not reach Christchurch before 1 o’clock tomorrow morning. Miss Kellar, on being interviewed, stated that the passengers were Mr, Mrs and Miss Condon, Miss Mussen, Mrs Schaef and child, Mr Meyers, Mrs Scott and child, Miss Kellar, Mr Davis, and Mr and Mrs Hamer. Most of the passengers had just taken their seats after walking up the Otira Gorge. The coach started down the hill, and rounded the first turn safely, but at the second, the coach capsized. The horses were going very fast, and all the passengers were thrown out of the coach except Mrs Scott, who clung to the coach and held her child. She got caught and was dragged fully two hundred yards, the child getting the back of his head knocked in.Date of Photo1907Map[1] ContributorTony Kokshoorn
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Location (city or town)OtiraArthurs PassEventDeaths Corner - Christchurch Coach in serious accident,.1907.
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Date Created28th March 2022CommentsCarolyn Murphy
Treacherous
Reply8h
Naiomi Brydie
That would have been horrific for those witnessing and thier family.....was such a risky route ....glad has been made better.....
Love this page with the history etc...thankyou
Heather Newby
Naiomi Brydie thanks.. good encouraging words,
Wayne Nicholson
Aahh. The satisfaction and bump of the steering wheel as another traverse of the ZigZag and Rockslide was completed !
June Williams
Wayne Nicholson and jumping sideways through the corrugations especially scary when going up or down the zigzag.
Wayne Nicholson
June Williams . Oh yes. We had to get out and walk it sometimes to clear the bigger rocks.
Lynne McKenzie
I could only equate it to crossing a swing bridge, heart stopping terror
Garry Chapman
Mrs Scott was my great Aunt a Keller from kellers road Gladstone
Garry Chapman
Sorry wife's great aunt
Wayne Morris
I once successfully towed a Vauxhall Viva over the pass with my well worn HD Holden. Ist Gear all the way to the top, took my time no incidents. Coming down Porters was a different story.
Wendy Bruce
You knew you could drive once you’d conquered the ZigZag both directions. Better to be the driver than passenger
Shirley Barrow
Wendy Bruce Used to drive over many times, yet hated being a passenger, heart stopping fear. My brother in law drew up improvements many yrs ago, but there wasn't much room for that sort of thing. Big trucks ruined it, most roads even today aren't meant to take heaps of trucks a day. Know we can't have smooth 4 lane highways like other countries, but there's still room for improvement on many. More rail where possible.
Joanne Jarden
Always breathed a sigh of relief once over that. Still do with the viaduct.
Malcolm Brears
Joanne Jarden preferred the old road- hate the viaduct!!
Colin Henry Richards
Ruth Hodgetts This was Aurther's Pass years ago.
Colleen Yee
Thinking of the brave men that built that road. I wonder how long it took, and the conditions that they had to live in.
Catherine Moffitt Rowlands
Can you remember our trips over this pass
Lee Rowlands
Arlene Hutcheon
I went over this lots when i was young. The cars were either a Ford Prefect, Morris Oxford or in later years a Holden Kingswood wagon.
Sandra Arnott
Arlene Hutcheon me as well!
Arthur Bass
Seen a Mk10 Jag and also a red HQ ute over the edge and to the bottom while up there.
Ian Murch
Traveled this road many times before the war.Lived in Greymouth but sister was in Ch.Ch hospital and visited each weekend
Dorothy Wills
That would have been a very traumatic time, the men that built that road originally must have been extraordinary workers it would have been a phenomenal achievement
Murray Bone
been over that old road a few times , buses had to do a two point turn to get around candys bend
Treacherous
Reply8h
Naiomi Brydie
That would have been horrific for those witnessing and thier family.....was such a risky route ....glad has been made better.....
Love this page with the history etc...thankyou
Heather Newby
Naiomi Brydie thanks.. good encouraging words,
Wayne Nicholson
Aahh. The satisfaction and bump of the steering wheel as another traverse of the ZigZag and Rockslide was completed !
June Williams
Wayne Nicholson and jumping sideways through the corrugations especially scary when going up or down the zigzag.
Wayne Nicholson
June Williams . Oh yes. We had to get out and walk it sometimes to clear the bigger rocks.
Lynne McKenzie
I could only equate it to crossing a swing bridge, heart stopping terror
Garry Chapman
Mrs Scott was my great Aunt a Keller from kellers road Gladstone
Garry Chapman
Sorry wife's great aunt
Wayne Morris
I once successfully towed a Vauxhall Viva over the pass with my well worn HD Holden. Ist Gear all the way to the top, took my time no incidents. Coming down Porters was a different story.
Wendy Bruce
You knew you could drive once you’d conquered the ZigZag both directions. Better to be the driver than passenger
Shirley Barrow
Wendy Bruce Used to drive over many times, yet hated being a passenger, heart stopping fear. My brother in law drew up improvements many yrs ago, but there wasn't much room for that sort of thing. Big trucks ruined it, most roads even today aren't meant to take heaps of trucks a day. Know we can't have smooth 4 lane highways like other countries, but there's still room for improvement on many. More rail where possible.
Joanne Jarden
Always breathed a sigh of relief once over that. Still do with the viaduct.
Malcolm Brears
Joanne Jarden preferred the old road- hate the viaduct!!
Colin Henry Richards
Ruth Hodgetts This was Aurther's Pass years ago.
Colleen Yee
Thinking of the brave men that built that road. I wonder how long it took, and the conditions that they had to live in.
Catherine Moffitt Rowlands
Can you remember our trips over this pass
Lee Rowlands
Arlene Hutcheon
I went over this lots when i was young. The cars were either a Ford Prefect, Morris Oxford or in later years a Holden Kingswood wagon.
Sandra Arnott
Arlene Hutcheon me as well!
Arthur Bass
Seen a Mk10 Jag and also a red HQ ute over the edge and to the bottom while up there.
Ian Murch
Traveled this road many times before the war.Lived in Greymouth but sister was in Ch.Ch hospital and visited each weekend
Dorothy Wills
That would have been a very traumatic time, the men that built that road originally must have been extraordinary workers it would have been a phenomenal achievement
Murray Bone
been over that old road a few times , buses had to do a two point turn to get around candys bend
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West Coast New Zealand History (29th Mar 2022). ALBUM - Deaths Corner - Christchurch Coach in serious accident.1907.. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 6th Apr 2026 06:59, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/30819