DAMAGES CLAIMED

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 208, 27 April 1932, Page 6

DAMAGES CLAIMED

ECHO OF COLLISION ON ROTORUA-TAUPO ROAD NEGLIGENCE ALLEGED Damages arising out of a eollision which occurred on the Taupo-Rofo-rua Road near Wairakei on Augvst 25, were claimed by the Dominion Life Assurance Cornpany, Limited, against J. C. Hobday, of Parnell, Auckland, in an action commenced in the Rotorua Magistrate's Court yes- . terday before Mr. S. L. Paterscn, . S.M. The accid°nt occurred on a bend near Wairakei, and as a result o" dama'n-es sustained by the car in Ihe ; collismn. the p7aint:ff cornpany claimed damages totalling £120 10s on the grounds that the acc;dent had ber" cflused. through the negligence of Hobday. The plaintiff company's car was being driven by one of its insnectors, ; Mr ludley P.ose, who was on his way to Taupo, while the defendant a 20 4 year old student. was proceeding in the opposite direetion en route to Rotorua. TK-> defendant denied negl'gerce. . and defended the cleim on tho.v „ grounds. Mr. M. H. Ilampson ap- ; pearr>d for the ^Lint'ff cnnpprv apd Mr. Hoare (Auckland) for the defendant. • William Stanley Gillies, garage proprietor of Taupo, said that on August 2-5 he had been called to an aecident on the Taupo Road. Two cars were involved and were about throe ov four feet anart when witness arrived on the scene. Witness had

'aken measurements and drawn a alan which he pioduced. From the •■o.sit'on of the cars he had no doubt ;hat the plaintiff's car had been on 'ts correct side. Ile had later removed plaintiff's car to his garage und had carried out renairs to the extent of £58 16s 8d. The car was T-orih £250 to £260 before the eol"sion, but even after repairs had been effected, he considered that it had denreciated £20 or £30. There ■vas nothing in the formation of the •oad to prevent a car keeping to the correct side. In reply to Mr. Hoare witness advn'tted that there was a fairly steep 'amKor on this particular corner. It was a olain curve and presented no o-rent difficulty. At the time of the eceident. however, there were some bunches of ti-tree growing on the eorner which would obscure the view to some extent. At this stage the case was adjourned until this morning.