MOTORISTS IN COURT

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 59, Issue 121, 24 June 1930, Page 4

MOTORISTS IN COURT

BREACHES OF BY-LAWS. SEVERAL OFFENDERS CHARGED. At the Hastings Police Court this morning, before Messrs G. C. Thornton and IV. J. Lynch, J's.P., the following cases were dealt with : — Joe Karetu was charged witli negligentlv driving a motor vehic-le along Te Mata road, Havelock North. Mr E. J. Hallett, for defendant. applied for a remand for a week, but to this the police objected and the ohjection was upheld. Under these cireumstances. Mr Hallett intimated that he would not appear for defendant, of vvhom there was no appearance. Evidence was given that defendant in liis car, knocked over a young lady on a hicycle. i A fine of £2, costs £1, was inflicted. INSUFFICIENT LIGHTS. Gerald Roland King was charged with driving a motor car on which there were msufficient lights. Defendant pleaded guilty and stated tliat he.liad put his. car irt a garage for repairs, and when defendant got it out, he liad no knowledge that anything was wrong with the lights. He was fined 10s, costs 10s. FAILED TO GIVE WAY. James Tliomas was charged with, being the driver of a motor car, he failed to give way to traffic approacliing on his right. Mr IV. E. Bate pleaded not guilty for defendant. Thomas Miller said he was driving down St. Aubvn street towards Karamu road and he was on the centre of the intersection when defendant' s car flashed across in front of him. Witness estimated his own speed at about 15 miles an liour and that of the other car at between 25 to 30 miles ari liour. Defendant blamed witness for the accident. holding that witness should have given way to the main road traffic. Witness admitted that he said he was prepared to "call it quits" as regards payment for any damage done, but defendant was not agreeable and held that witness should pay for it. IVitness denied that he was travelling at 30 miles an liour. He admit- ; ted tliat he liad only been driving a car for a few weeks. Constable McCall said that the accident occurred abont the centre of the road, - and, ,in his opinion, defendant should have given way. Similai- evidence was given by Constable Bowick. Mr Bate contended that under the regulations the case h ad not been proved, but the Bench decided to hear the case through. There was no appearance of defendant, wlio is away working. in Taupo, but- an independent witness, John R. Sloane, who saw the accident, gave evidence that Miller' s vehicle was crossing the intersection at about 30 miles an liour. He also saw defendant's car doing ahout 10 to 15 miles an hour. Miller told witness he was in a liurry, and said something about an uncle being ill. . IVitness was quite satisfied that Miller was travelling too fast,and liad defendant not accelerated there would have heen a serious accident. It was Miller' s speed which was the cause of the accident. The Bench decided in favour of the prosecution, although it admitted that Miller' s speed was too fast. A fine of 10s, costs 15s, was inflicted. Security for appeal on the legal aspect was fixed ^t £15 15s.