COLLISION ON BRIDGE

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22513, 22 September 1938, Page 4

COLLISION ON BRIDGE

DAMAGES CLAIMED

JUDGMENT GIVEN FOR

DEFENDANT

Judgment for defendant in an accident claim for £l2O damages resulting from a collision on a narrow oneway bridge on the Kurow-Omarama road in January last year, was given by Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M., in a reserved decision at a sitting of i he Magistrate’s Court at Oamaru yesterday morning. The claim was brought by Andrew Kennedy, a builder, of Timaru (Mr W. G. Campbell), against William Berry McCone, farmer, of Tokarahi, and 1 the lorry-driver (his employee), Leslie Ivan Kennedy, of Tokarahi, both of whom were represented by Mr E. J. Anderson, of Dunedin. The plaintiff based his claim in that his car was a stationary object on he bridge, and that the lorry-driver, in coming on to the bridge and striking his car, was grossly careless and negligent of any other traffic on the road, said, the Magistrate. This evidence was not wholly confirmed. The facts showed that neither the plaintiff saw the defendant’s lorry nor the defendant the plaintiff’s car until too late to avoid the collision, he said. There was no excuse for either of the parties not seeing each other—each knew the locality well and were both grossly negligent, thus causing the accident. He held that the lorrydriver was the first on the bridge, but was unable to say that he had the last opportunity of avoiding the accident.

The entering of judgment was adjourned for a fortnight to enable costs to be arrived,at.

SUBCOMMITTEES

APPOINTED

MEETING OF AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION

The election of sub-committees of the Automobile Association (North Otago) was held at the monthly meeting on Tuesday evening, when the president (Mr W. Gillies) presided. The following committees were appointed: Finance —Messrs W. Gillies (president), J. H. Main, J. W. Petrie (treasurer), and H. Hay (secretary). Camp —Messrs Gillies, J. T. Calder, J. Campbell, J. Gerrie. H. J. Jenkins, B. Steven. Signposting—Messrs Gillies, E. R. Cuzens, I. Dalmer, A. A. Mays, S. M. Taylor, and C. Don. Vigilance—Messrs Gillies, Gerrie. W. ,'E. Judkins, Jenkins. Main, and D. H. Thpmson. Six new members were elected.

PERSONAL NOTES

OAMARU

Messrs W. Gillies (president), D. H, Thomson, J. W. Petrie, J. H. Main, arid the secretary (Mr H. Hay) will represent the Automobile Association (North Otago) at the annual meeting of the Otago Association on September 29. Mr P. W. Hargreaves, master m charge of the party of Waitaki Boys High School pupils which recently completed a trip to Canada, returned to Oamaru yesterday. _ __ The Mayor of Oamaru (Mr L. J. K. Familton) arid the Town Clerk (Mr J. Branthwaite) left for Dunedm yesterday morning. -: They - returned to Oamaru last evening.

INQUEST ADJOURNED

An inquest into the death of Olga Clare Fraser, aged 23, who lived at 264 Thames street, was .opened before the Coroner (Mr A. W. Woodward, J.P.) yesterday morning. After evidence of identification war given by, a brother, Mr A. J.. Fraser; of Bannockburn, the inquest was adjourned sine die.