They reached Otira about 10 o'clock, when information was received that the river was 3ft 6in above normal at the Bealey, and it looked as if they would be held up for a day.
Later on, however, word came that the river was falling, and it was decided to push on.
The coaches left Otira about 2.30, the Otira River being so high that the passengers crossed by a footbridge, leaving the vehicles to ford the stream.
The Waimakariri was still a trifle high.
The driver (Mr Searle) looked for a suitable ford on horseback, till he located a spot where a crossing could be made with safety.
The passengers were then conveyed across in a stout waggonnette about 6 o'clock, leaving the Bealey again at a quarter to 7.
Broken River was reached about 10pm, but the last coach came to grief on the hill above the station.
The driver (Mr Clarke), who was hugging the hill pretty closely in the dark, got into a deep rut, upsetting the coach against the bank.
He was thrown out on his head, but stuck to the reins, while one of the passengers jumped clear and ran to the horses' heads.
The six passengers inside got a fright, but beyond a severe shaking came to no harm.
They finished the journey into Broken River - a matter of 300 yards - on foot, while the coach was righted and brought on with the luggage.
The Railway Department delayed the train, and Christchurch was reached about 12.45.
Wellington: Mr Dinnie, Commissioner of Police, in his annual report says: "The provisions of the Gaming Act having regard to the licensing of bookmakers and the indiscriminate action of the racing authorities in issuing betting licenses to all applicants in a position to pay the necessary fee, irrespective altogether of character or fitness to hold a license, have been quite contrary to that intended.
Bookmakers and their followers have seriously increased, the majority of them being totally unfit, both pecuniary and otherwise to hold licenses.
The law should provide that none but those holding a certificate of fitness from a magistrate or the chief police of the district concerned should be licensed, nor should anyone be permitted to act as a bookmaker at any race meeting whatsoever unless he holds such certificate."
