FELL FROM MOTOR-CAR

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 635, 11 April 1929, Page 16

FELL FROM MOTOR-CAR

INQUEST OPENED ON PERI RANGI TAXI DRIVER CHARGED Charged with recklessly driving a motor-car so as to cause the death of Peri Rangi, a Maori, aged 17 years, at Wiri last Christmas Day, John Elliott, a taxi-driver, of East Tamaki, appeared in the Police Court yesterday afternoon. At the same time an inquest into the circumstances of Rangi’s death was held. Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., presided. Detective-Sergeant Bickerdike conducted the case for the police, and Elliott was represented by Mr. Mackay. Deceased was admitted to hospital, suffering from injuries to the head, including a fracture of the skull. He died on January 11. There was no sign of liquor about him when he was admitted. Hori Koa, a farm worker, of Aotoatoa, said deceased and witness were riding on the left-hand running-board of the car, which carried a full load, and w'as proceeding to East Tamaki. The car -was going fairly fast when an accident occurred after a mile had been covered, the car running off the road on a corner and throwing deceased and witness out. Another Maori witness said there were eight Maoris, one child and two white men, including the driver, in the car, making 11 persons in all. Some of the passengers were fairly drunk, said witness. He did not know if Rangi had been drinking, and he did not see any liquor in the car. Other witnesses said the car travelled 100 yards before stopping after the accident, and one Maori stated the car was going so fast it zigzagged on the road. Desmond Carl Gillard, of East Tamaki, estimated the speed at 25 miles an houc. He had heard the driver tell the two Maoris to get inside, but they had refused, stating they could ride outside.

Constable Maloney, of Papatoetoe, said when he saw the occupants of the car after the accident, none of the Maoris appeared to be drunk, while the driver was quite sober. By examining the road the following day, he thought by the marks that the car must have been doing 50 miles an hour.

Mr. Mackay objected to the evidence seen by the constable the following day, and the magistrate allowed the objection to be recorded. To enable counsel to quote authority in support of his objection, the hearing was adjourned until this morning.