COURT NEWS

Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 32, 9 May 1938, Page 2

COURT NEWS

COLLISION CASES The monthly sitting of the tiki Magistrate’s Court was hold to-day before MV E. L-. Walton,. B.M. : , Bernie White was charged with breaking a prohibition order. Accused pleaded guilty and was fined £1 Tg*V IQs. costs. Taylor Tai facing a similar charge, pleaded guilty and was fined £3 with 10s costs. TRAFFIC OFFENCES Eric Power was eha'rged that on February 26 while driving a car in Ford Street he tailed to keep a proper look-out for other traffic. Defendant pleaded guilty. Sergeant Isbister who prosecuted said that at aboup 6.30 pan. on the 26th. February, Mr Torkild Braae, an accountant employed by Messrs Bunk? all and Murray, sohutors, was cjcling along Brabant Street with a little boy on the front of the cycle. He turned the corner into Ford street and. was on his proper side when the taxi knocked* him oft his bicycle. Mr Braae was removed to hospital where he remained in a semi-conscious condition for several weeks. Sergeant- Jsbister continued that the measurements showed that Mr Braae was well around the corner when struck by the car. He was also on his proper side. The wheehnarks of the car had not swerved to the right otherwise the car would have missed Mr Braae. There was eleven feet of clear road to the right of the taxi. In a statement defendant said he did! not see Mr Braae at the time of the accident. Accused was convicted and fined £3 with 19s costs.

OARS WITHOUT WARRANTS Jack Coleman was charged with driving a car at Taneatua. on 25th February without a warrant of fitness. Defendant was convicted and fined 10s and' costs.

Joe Herewini faced a similar charge, The alleged offence taking place at Opape on March 16. Defendant was convicted and fined 10s and costs. COLLISION AT HUKUWAI George Pococlc was charged with failing to kteep as close as -possible to the left of the roadway. Sergeant Lsbister stated that the collision took place when accused was driving a school-bus near Dodd’s corner. . Constable Beasley in evidence stated! that at 3.30 p.m. lie received information of a- collision and on driving to the scene of the accident found only one car belonging to Mr Roberts facing town. There was no sign of the other ear which he was told was one of Bell and Lovell’s taxis driven by defendant. Constable Beasley commenced ’to take measurements when defendant returnd giving no reason for leaving. A map was then produced'. Both drivers agreed on :lie approximate point of contact and from that point measurements were taken. Cross-examined by Mr Hodgson, who appeared for defendant, Constable Beasley said that- at the time of the collision the taxi was conveying school-children .to Tablelands, two children being injured. In witness’ opinion defendant was not keeping out to the left of the road. He could have gone out another 20 feet. Roberts’ car could only go in another foot without going into the drain. On the road there was an island of grass and thick loose metal quite a bit above the road level. Mr Lloyd Roberts, sharemilker, stated that he was the owner of a Ford car: which he was driving from Tablelands to Opotiki. He was travelling at about 10 to 15 m.p.h. as was the other car. He could not swing any further to. tiie left without going into the drain. Cross-examined by Mr Hodgson witness stated that his wheel-track was 4ft Gin wide. The fact that his right hand wheel was eight feet from the left of the road could be accounted for by the fact that he had to- swing out on the corner. There was also a slight side pull on his brakes which would put his front wheel out. The magistrate said that it was /V----question of the width of the \ioacr. was decided to visit the scene of the accident and the Court was adjourned. Upon resumption Mr Hodgson submitted that the road for the purpose of the regulations was tluV'ftetal portion shown cn the plan _>' xsft Gins. submitted that Pococlc was. on the Ufrect side and Roberts was on tha side because of the pull of the Kikes. magistrate considered • that dewas keeping as close as was to the left of. the read and Htmissed the information.