HAMPDEN MOTOR-CAR INCIDENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10066, 6 February 1909, Page 4

HAMPDEN MOTOR-CAR INCIDENT.

To the Editor. Sir, —Replying to your Iccal re die iate accident, motor-car v. baker's cart, on Mueraki toad. I enclose two letters, one from the owner of the cart-, and the other from the father of the boy who was driving. From them you will see that the motorists version of the case, as riven by you, was by no means in accordance with facts. I think in the future you ought to exercise a little more care before publishing locals as, replies to correspondence received from a reliable source. We are quite aware that the motor has come to stay, but there is. no reason why motorists should not use a little discretion and judgment, especially on a dangerous road such a* Moerafci road in. ft appears to me that the man who U wealthy enough to indulge in the luxury of a motor-car thinks, that naturally he has a monopoly to the right-of-way. Xo doubt there are exceptions to this rule, but they don't hail from I lamaru. I would suggest that the Chairman of the County Council be asked to go down. :tnd I am sure .Mr Nicolsun will" l»- only t->o pleased to show him th» scene of the aci ident The Hampden IJorough Council, in their wisdom, are calling a special meeting for Saturday night to confirm a by- j law regulating the speed of motor-cars through the borough to something under 10 miles an hour. t_ra the day" of the aforesaid accident there were no less than four large motor-cars on Moeraki road, which are • ertainlv a great source oi danirer: mor- so when recklessly handled. f am. etc., COUKKSI'nXnKXT. Hampden. 4th February, 1909.

[K.VCLOsCBE.] "Hampden. February 4, I'JOO. Hear Sir. -In conne* tion with the motor-car a.-- • ident which recently happened on the Moeraki road, being the owner of the ••art and horse, 1 wisii firmly to deny some misleading statements maiit: by the carowner. That the cart was on "the top of the hill is absolutely untrue. The cart was ascending- the lull and the car was coming over the top. Uri seeing the hood of the- ear coming over the top the hor.-e turned rotted, and instead of the car pulling up it came on. The horse hearing the car coming behind her naturally started plunging, got over the bank. car>.-i/«-d. and rolled over and over. It was- in these plunges that the trace broke. As to the second statement re damages to cart. T strongly deny hiving told Mr Crave that my damages were practically nothing'. Mr Crave called on the night after the accident and asked nr>- what were my damages. I>n being approached rather suddenly I lould not .-tate mv damages, as t.h- cart or harness had not been" tix.-d. Mr Crave said le- wasn't responsible, that he stood no liabilitv. but didn't want the name. I mention,,." that I thought it was Vfi-y manly of him. lousidering he "wasn't the"driver" of the car. After a little conversation. I told him I would see him again on the nutter, and he said. "Vcrv well. I will call again." Just fancy a • art rolling over twice and sustaining no damage. I'egardiug the chauffeur, if he is not to blame 1 fail to -.-.■ V ;ho : s. If he didn't see the accident going into Moeraki. he mti.-t have seen it ("ciing cat. Why didn't he ston then—mavbe I. • didn't wau't to be known". Regarding damage or wreckage. [ have witnesses to prove same. Among the witnesses are .-.;t- worthv Mayor" (Mr Niclsoti) and .:!-. ':■ David Dunbar, who picked the young man r.p. I enclose a rough idea of damages: The to; of cart and rim broken, both sphis.'tboards broken, ami irons broken off. brakbent, the body of the cart cracked, wheel turned, also sundries : one bag sngar, one bag oatmeal, tuba,..., (10s worth), also groceries, and bread to amount of 40 loaves, totally soaked with rain. Let alone loss of "time and the inconvenience of getting' another young man. Trusting you. to insert this in votir valuable paper. r am. etc. "U. KKXXF.TT."

•■Hampden. February 4th. 1009. Sir.— A local appeared in "the 'Mail the other evening . onoernimr a trap accident on the Moeraki mad. cau-.d by a motor-car. A lawyer waited on tiie the other evening and" discussed tie- matter with me and was very fair with in.-. I must say I did not think that t was in the witness-box. ami could not jay what I read in the local was true. The "lad with the trap was coming up the Moeraki road and towards the top of the hill as the motor-car came shooting over the hill at a iro.xl rate. The horse wlie-eled round and the lad field the horse tightly as the motor shot past. The horse was dancing, and crouched down as soon as the it lof the motor came opposite his horse's head. The horse jumoed over the bank and eansi.ed the cart. The man must have known that the cart was . apsizcl. and re w r both-ted his head about it. am! then he dro»e back some time after, and never stopped to see it there was. anybody hurt. The cart was turned up on" the" side of tie- road, and he was bound to see ir. The boy says the horse did not start iiuiotlv. and more, he did not lose , ...utr.tl of the horse. In thlo. al it savs that tin- boy and his father had an m"ter\tew with the driverof the car an.! admitted that it was no fault of the driver of the i ar. No such thin.:: the father eoiibl not admit that, for he did not see the accident. The boy has come to himself now. though not out of danger, anil he says that there is not a word of truth in it. The doctor was not ca11..! in until the next day. but that was my fault. Tito b..y is. still in bed and ntav not be abb- to i:et up for some time. [ b-lieve the motor was the cause of thaccident, and if the motor had not been there, there would not have been an a.--■JUS. WIuH.FiHU). " Surfaceman. Hampden."