We regret to learn that a serious accident occurred to a wagon driver last evening, about eight o'clock, at the third bridge from Manuka Creek, which resulted in the death of the driver and one of the horses. In crossing one of those most awkwardly angled bridges, it would appear that the wheel of the wagon had come in contact with the side entrance wall, in all probability owing to the great difficulty in turning a long team, by which the wall was thrown down, and the wagon precipitated into the deep rocky creek below. The six leading horses appear to have broken their chains, but the shafters and driver were carried over with the wagon. One of the shafters escaped death, but was severely cut and bruised ; the other was killed, and the poor driver was found under the load in the middle of the stream— of course also dead. The loading, which largely consisted of sugar and salt, said to be for Moa Flat station, has been seriously damaged by the water; but this is but nothing in comparison to the loss of human life. Several accidents have taken place at the same spot, and the attention of the Government has been repeatedly called to the dangerous character of that portion of the road. Now that a life has been lost, perhaps some attention will be paid to it. The driver's name, we learn, was Mr Rutherford, and, it is reported, leaves a wife and six children to mourn his untimely end. The waggon and team belonged to Mr Robert Gawn, carrier, Dunedin.

An inquest into the death of Wm. Rutherford, Manuka, Creek, on Thursday evening, as mentioned in last issue, was held on Friday. The report will be found in another column. In addition to the particulars there given, the following items may be interesting: — From all that can be gathered it would appear that, the off wheel of the wagon had struck the stone portion of the parapet on the right hand side of the road, and which gave way. The deceased then called to his team, and the animals feeling something to be wrong, at once exerted their whole strength. The wheel must then have gone over the bridge, and the progress of the wagon was arrested by the post of the wooden portion of the parapet. At this point the chains of the leaders must have snapped, and the strain being stopped, the wagon would at once fall over. The depth of the fall was at least thirty feet. The bed of the creek is rock and there was a considerable stream of water running at the time. The shaft horse, which is dead, is believed to have been drowned. When the first of the men (D. Wilson and J. Butler, of Tokomairiro) arrived to give assistance they believed the horse was uninjured, but in the anxiety to find the deceased, the body of the wagon was, upon the arrival of further assistance, turned over above the horse, and no one had presence of mind to hold his head out of the water, otherwise it is believed he would have been saved The other shaft horse had a deep cut., about eighteen inches long, on the inside of the near hind leg, and sundry scratches. One of the six leaders had fallen and been dragged some distance along the road by the others. He is much cut and bruised. A horse belonging to Mr Kitchen, Moa Fiat, was, at the time of the accident, tied behind the wagon with a half-inch new rope, but which it managed to break, and thus save! its life. The loading was a general one — sugar, salt, bottled porter. wire, &c — and was of course very much damaged by breakage and water. The owner of the wagon and team is, Robert Gawn. of Dunedin. A messenger went for him over night after the accident, and he arrived the following day, and set a number of men to work to haul up the debris after the inquest was concluded The wagon was then drawn up to the road, and was found to have sustained but very little injury It of course was saved by having overturned, and falling on the top of the loading. The deceased has been in Mr. Gawn's employment during the last six years, and leaves a widow and family. The body was conveyed to Dunedin on Friday evening.

A. few days ago it was telegraphed from Dunedin that a very serious accident had occurred to Cobb's coach at the Beamont, by which several persons were seriously injured. According to a Dunedin paper the following appears to have been the manner in which the accident occurred : — immediately on commencing the descent of the hill, the horses were going at a walking pace. The driver placed his foot on the brake, which snapped in two, throwing him on the footboard of the coach, thus giving the horses their heads, and allowing the full weight of the coach to run on the horses, who immediately bolted down the hill at a mad gallop. It may be remarked that the horses were without breeching. The driver regained his seat, and endeavoured to keep the team straight. One of the wheelers at the same time was kicking, and caused the coach to swerve to one side. On reaching the bottom of the steep hill, on nearly level ground, the kingbolt came out separating the fore carriage from the body of the coach. The horses then bolted with the fore carriage, the coach toppling over down hill, turning completely over in a forward direction. The leaders, who were galloping a good distance ahead, cams in contact with the team of Mr Gawn's wagon, the same which went over the bridge at Manuka Creek some time back, dragging the harness off the horses, and causing the team to take fright, which resulted in the breaking of the shafts and twisting the axle of the wagon, and doing other damage.

From our own Correspondent. Dunedin September 22. A man known as George was 'found dead in one of Gawn's wagons, at Tokomairiro, this morning.