MAYOR'S MISFORTUNE

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 58, Issue 279, 28 December 1929, Page 6

MAYOR'S MISFORTUNE

(Special to Telegraph.)

REV. J. K. A RO HER DAMACUS CHRISTCHURCH CITY CAR. COLLISION WITH TRAM.

CHRISTCHURCH, This day. Tlie new motor-ear Avhich tho Christchurch City Council rcc-ently purchased i'or the use of the Mayor "hui official business Avas damaged to the extent o'f about £25 as a result of a eoHision with a moving tram in Cathedral Square sbort Iv after ten oclock on Christmas Eve. The Mayor, tlie Rev. J. Iv. Archer, formerly of Napier, Avas driving the car at the time, and tlie Mayoress and Airs T. Green. a member of tlie Hospital Board, and two children Avere witlx liim. but f'ortunately no oue Avas injured. Tlie accident occurred Avlien tbe Mayor w.as returniiig i'rom tlie M'altliani Orphanage. He wa.s bringing some children into tbe Square to catcli tlieir tram and turned from Woreester street round tlie baek of tbe Cathedral to puil np in i'l-ont of it. After seeing the children off on tlieir tram, he intended to eall at tlie Post Offiee. Tlie rain made visibility very had, and Mr Archer says he did not see the tram until it liit him iusb as he Avas crossing the lines ab ihe intersection of the Sumner and inward-bound tram lines. The tram, Avliich Avas coining from ihe Cashmere Hills, struck the car ab an angle. CAR DAA1AGEI). The Avlieel pf tlie car Aias doublocl up and the axle avhs lienb. The fronb bumper A^as also ri]ipcd aivay from its fastenings 011 the riglit-hand side. The mudguard on tlie lcft-band side Avas badly benb and buckled. and tlie rnnning board Avas slightly spliniercd. No liarm appeared to liave been done tn tbe body of the ear. The car wa? dragged clear of tlie tram rails and Avas lcfb in the Square for some time after ihe sniasli, being an obiect of inievcst to many passersby. Mr Archer reported tlie accident io the poliee immediatolv after it occurred and about elovon o'clock tbe car Avas towed on a trolly to the garage of Davyl Crozier, Ltd.. vrhere it Avill be renaired. MAYOR'S STATEAIENT. The Alavor informed a reporter that tbe tram had struck tbe. car. neitlier liiuistlf nor tlie motorniau of tbe tram having seen each otber in tiine to avoil tlie accident. Tbe niotorman liad stated that he was unable to stop Avgbout bumpiug into ihe car. "f Avas at a cliildren's part.v at tbe Waltham Orphanage, and Avas bringing three children io the Square to catch tlieir tram, and two other children whom f was going to take to their lionies in Spreydon," said tlie Alayor. "I put three of tlie children doivu in f'ont of ihe Cathedral. aud then was moving awav towards the Post Offiee v. her the tram struck the car. It Avas nr b iio-ssiblo to see ihe tram coimng. and 1 Avas going at only about six oi" eiglit miles an liour. driving very ca-re-fully. The damage to thp car is not very scrious. The engine did not stop iiinning aud Ihe liglit s remained 011, ano not a pnne of glass- Avas broken. Piohably £25 will eover tlie whole of thp damage." BOUGFIT BY COUNCIL. Del ivm-y of ihe car Avas taken by ihe City Council onlv on November 9, and sinee then tlie Mayor has mostlv drivcn it himself. If was originaily intended to eniplov a chauffeur to look after it, bnt rccently the council made arraugcmcnts Avith the Iraffie department ot provide a driver wliencver reipiired. The car is a six-cylindcr luxurioiis closed model with scating for six persons. It wa.s ihe first of its knid to he delivered in Cliristehureli. The decision of tlie couiicili to pnrchase an official car for the use of ihe Mavor Avas made on account of ihe Aiulii, Department refusing to auiliorise tlie payinent of any nllowance io tlie Mavor for ihe u.se of his private ca-r. The Afa.vor was willing to accept a small aHoivance. but as it could not be made to liim the council deeided tn speiid np to £650 on the purchase of an official car.