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Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2011, 21 February 1907, Page 1

WAIROA COURT. Apponded aro reports of cases heard at AVnirou by Sir W. A. Bartoil, S.M.: — EXCESSIVE SPEED OE MOTORCAR. William Richmond was charged with driving a motor-car at oxcessive spood from Paul street into marine parado on Jan. 21st. Defendant pleaded not guilty, and was represented by Mr Pool. Frederick J. Foot said lie remembered cycling up Marino parado towards Paul street on Jan. 2ist. Ho was riding in the centre of the road and when opposito tho Guardian office heard a motor-car coining out of Paul street. As soon as be saw the car he "ot -off the road on the left hand side and dismounted, lie was on tho wrong side of the road owing to a patch of new broken metal on tho road.

.15” Police : Couldn’t; estimn to speed of car. It was a dangerous corner, and a horse should bo walked round it The car was going faster than a horse could walk. Frederick Hird deposed he was employed by the Clyde Town Board. On January 21st ho was working at the Marino parade end of Paul street, Tie was on the river bank when the motor-car wont.'round the corner at tho same pace as down the street. The speed was much greater than 10 miles an hour. Saw Mr Foot get' out of the war very quick. Defendant was driving and Dr. Somerville was in tho car with hni. By Mr Foot: Tho car was gong fastor than a bicycle could be ridden. He considered the speed round the corner dangerous. David Curtis said he was roadman for the Clyde Town Board. On Jan. 21st last was working at Marine parade end of Paul street. Saw a motor-car coming down the sti’eet faster than a horse, could trot. Saw that Mr Foot had to get out of the road quickly as there was a danger of tho car running over him. By Mr Foot: The car came over on the wrong side of the road. There was a patch of broken metal in the centre. By Police: The car if carefully driven could have passed on the left hand side of the road. His Worship had no doubt the position was a dangerous one. He thought eight miles an hour sufficient pace for a car in any part of a town, and that it should slow down to the walking pace of a horse in turning corners. Ho inflicted a fine of £1 with costs. William Richmond was also charged with driving a motor-car at an excessive speed over the Wairoa bridge on January 20th. Defendant pleaded not guilty, and was represented by Mr Foot. Frederick J. Foot said that on January 20th he saw defendant drive his motor-car over tho Wairoa bridge very smartly. He was going at a rate of 12 to 15 miles an hour. Harry Davis, contractor, deposed to having seen tho car go over the bridge. The rate was from 12 to 15 miles an hour. Turning the corner to go on to the bridge tho car skidded on all four wheels. Alfred Geo. Allen, saddler, corroborated the previous witness. Mr Foot contended that the County Council had not made a bylaw regulating motor-car traffic in conformity with the provisions of the Act, and quoted various authorities. Mr Barton, S.M., reply in" to Mr Foot’s objection that the by-law was note framed in accordance wjth the Act, stated it as his opinion that notwithstanding the fact that the bylaw did not provide for the inclusion of motor-cars, it provided that vehicles were not to cross over the bridge at other than a walking pace, which meant about five miles an hour. It had been proved that tho motor-car had been driven over the bridge at about 15 miles an hour. Ho fined the defendant £1 and costs. SUPPLYING DRINK TO A MAORI WOMEN.

I£. A. Grenside pleaded guilty to a charge of supplying drink to Maori women. Mr Foot, who appeared for the accused, explained that some Maori women wore in the kitchen of the Mohaka Hotel. An iced cake was being prepared for one of the childroll’s birthdays; Accused yielded to their importunity to “shout.” He pleaded leniency on the ground that the licensee was inexperienced at hotel-keeping. His Worship said it was a licensee’s duty to make himself conversant with iiis business, The supplying of Maori woinpn with liquor was a cqmmon offence, and very difficult to sheet home. lie convicted the accused, and fined him £lO and costs, but would not endorse the license, OBSCENE LANGUAGE. A. AV. Harris was charged with using obscene language to T. C. Webb, stock inspector, on January Btb last. Mr Sandoman appeared for defendant, who pleaded not guily. Thomas Charles AA’ebb said lie was Stock and Hairy Inspector. Mr Pryde, manager f'qr Mr'J. Hunter Brown, sent for him on Jim. 7tli to see a cow. Witness aranged to meet him at the defendant’s cowyard the following morning. Defendant was there.. AVitness gave an opinion about the cow, and then made a remark about the dairy, and a drain at the hack of the slied in particular. They were about a chain from the main road. (AA r itness read language complained of from his noto hook, having taken it down at the time, and warned accused). Aocused continued using this language until witness got on the main road. He asked Pryde to also take a noto at the time.

By Mr Sandcman: Defendant stopped in the yard and emitted a volley of oaths. David D. Pryde said lie was manager of Wliakai station. Ho remembered meeting Mr Webb at Harris’, Webb examjiieiil a cow, and then sa}d, will now examine Harris’ drains.” He Jieard the language complained of. Heard Mr Webb caution Harris. By Mr Sandeman : When accused used the language they were a chain from the road. Couldn’t boar what accused was saying when they reached the road, and no one was passing. By Mr Webb: Witness said to Webb that he had heard nothing to justify the language, Mr Sandcman contended the language was not used in a public place within the hearing of people on the main road.

His Worship said there .was no doubt accused Used filthv and disgusting language, and it was fortunate for him that in this instance lie could not convict him. To constitute an offence it would have to be proved that the language was heard by passers-by. He would, therefore, have to dismiss the information, ASSAULT CASE. Thos.. Barrett v. Thos. Moran. — Assault. Mr Sandeman appeared for complainant and Mr Boot for defendant. Thos. Barrett said he was working for the County Council on the Cricklewood road. At about 7.30 p.m. on the previous Monday he was harnessing up his horse in a yard when Moran came along under the influence of liquor. Accused said, “Good evening, Tom.” Witness replied, “Good evening, Tom.” Witness refused to shake hands with him, and accused came inside the fence aiid struck him oil the head with liis fist, also kicking him on the left leg, using violent language at the same time.

By Mr Sandeman: Defendant had assaulted him before. While a prohibition order was in force against him he was quietly disposed, but was offensive when drunk'. By Mr Foot: Defendant spoke first and he replied civilly. Had known ivioran about 16 years. Mary Toomey said she knew the parties in the case. The informant was at iier house on Monday last. He was harnessing his horse when accused came up and assaulted him: Informant wouldn’t shake hands with him and advised him to go home. By Mr Sandeman : Defendant was under the influence of liquor. Barrett was quite sober . Constable Duke said Barrett was quite sober when he made the complaint. 'By Bench :Ha,l seen Moran on the day of the assault, and he was under the influence of liquor. Tlios. Moran said he was passing and asked informant to shake hands with him. He refused and witness pushed him away with his hands. His hands was not closed, and he didn’t kick him. By Mr Sandeman: Might have been under the influence of liquor.