MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5089, 16 February 1927, Page 2

MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

PAEROA, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15.

CYCLIST WITHOUT NUMBER PLATE

The first case of its kind at Paeroa under section 7 of the Motor Vehicles Act was ventilated at the local Magistrate’s Court, before Mr F. W. Platts, S.M., yesterday, when Frederick Collins, Patetonga., was charged with riding a motor-cycle in Normanby Road, Paeroa, on January 4 1 , without having the assigned number and distinguishing mark affixed to the machine. The was no appearance of defendant.

Constable McClinchy stated tha-i he had seen the defendant riding up the street without a registration plate on his machine. When called on to stop, defendant took no notice and the constable had to chase him in a motorcar. There were several previous convictions against defendant Defendant was convicted and fined £2, with costs 12s. NEGLIGENT DRIVING. Edward Ernest Thompson, taxidriver, Waihi, was charged with reckless and negligent driving of a motorcar round the intersection of Normanby Road and Arney Street on February 4. Constable McClinchy stated that defendant had taken the corner .at about, 30 miles an hour. A great danger existed, and defendant was known to be a reckless driver. Defendant, wly> did not, appear, was convicted and fined £3, with costs totalling 18s, PROHIBITION ORDER BROKEN.

A second charge , that of procuring liquor on February 1 during the currency Oif ,a prohibition order, was also preferred against Thompson. Constable A. R. Rimmer, who had been relieving at Paeroa., stated that defendant had obviously had liquor when he was interrogated. He had refused to confess from whom he had obtained liquor.

A conviction was recorded, and defendant was fined £2, with costs 10s. Still another charge, that of recklessly and negligenty driving a motorcar in Belmont Road on February 2 was preferred against E l . E. Thompson. On this charge also defendant did not appear.

Consitable Rimmer stated that defendant had been driving a heavy fiveseater car in Belmont Road on the afternoon in question when he collided with a shop verandah and was the cause of levelling it on the ground.

In a statement (produced) defendant pleaded guilty, and said that he was in the act of turning his car fr-m the left to the right-hand side of the street when the steering gear failed to function, with the result that the left-hand side wheels of the car got too far into the water channel and struck a verandah pest. When he made the turn he gave a warning signal that he was changing his direction. but admitted that he was travelling at about 25 miles an hour at, the time. He also' admitted that he had consumed liquor during the day, but. did not disclose from whom the liquor had been obtained. Defendant, contended that his brakes were ip proper working order, but Constable Rimmer staed that subsequent to the mishap he had examined the car and had 'found that bot.h the hand and foot brakes, were not functioning as they should. Defendant had admitted liability for the sum of £B, being the amount o>f damage done to, the shop verandah, and had signified his intent, '.on of paying the amount as span as he could. In answer to the Bench Constable McClinchy stated that it was the intention of the police to apply for the cancellation of Thompson’s driver’s license. The police were not prepared to press the point at that stage, as there was another case pending against defendant at the next sitting of the Court at Waihi.

His Worship : Very well, then ; de fendant will be convicted' and flnei £5, with 15s costs.