A WILD DRIVE

Hokitika Guardian, 23 November 1933, Page 5

A WILD DRIVE

BY CAR THIEF DRUNKEN MAORI GOALED. (Per Press Association—Copyright)

ROTORUA, November 12. The Magistrate s Court imposed cumulative sentences amounting to six montiis’ hard laoour upon a Maori motor driver, Nolii Nikora, charged witn unlawful conversion of a ear, drunken driving and theft. The police stated the circumstances were particularly glaring. INikora admitted taking a large sedan car' while under the innuence of drink and was next observed driving, at a terrific speed up Ngongotaba Mountain road. The roaring of the car couid be heard for a considerable distance, and it was lurching from side to side, striking the sides of cuttings, with one door swinging open, and this was found later torn off, and sticking in the side of a bank.

Realising something was wrong farmers investigated and they found the car, with the differential stuck on a I°Sj hanging over the lip of a steep 200 feet drop. The engine was still roaring, and Nikora was sitting I asleep in the car with his foot jammed hard on the accelerator. One hack wheol was partially off the ground, and the tyro of it had been torn completely off. Nigora admitted the charges of drunken driving and appropriating the car. He also admitted that he had broken open a suitcase in the back seat and appropriated a number of articles. When found, he was wearing an overcoat belonging to theowner of the car, Henry Roger Kusabs senr.

Sergeant Carroll stated it was one of the worst cases he had encountered, and Nikora had previous convictions for negligent driving in addition to sentences of imprisonment. Nikora’s licese was cancelled and. he was prohibited from driving a car for two years.