MOTOR-CAR SPEED.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8112, 17 May 1906, Page 2

MOTOR-CAR SPEED.

TKANSGBESSING THE BOROUGH BF-LAWS. James Davidson, piano-maker, of New Plymouth, was charged on Wednesday with turning the oorner of Devon and Ourrie streets at other than a walking pace, and with having passed a vehicle on the wrong side, contrary to tho borough by-laws. Sergoant Haddrell prosocutcd, and tho defendant was represented by Mr W. L. Pit*, h rbert.

Henry William Ballot, an express driver, was the first witness. Ho stated that about four o'clock on the date mentioned, he was walking his express round the corner from Devon street into Currie street. All of a sudden the defendant's motor-car came between him and the kerb, on. his left-hand side, almost colliding with the telegraph post. There was not room to pass, and witness pulled oi't tu avoid a col. lision. The car was travelling at quite jten miles an hour. Go.rag round the (corner into Gill street, the pace was [still greater.

; Tq M* Fitekerhort: Witness did not hear any horn sounded. It was possible for the driver of the motorcar to go on Ins right side. Wilium' horses wore walking. Ho hid no spite against Ihe defendant, and hid inspired no letter or iiiforqi.tbn pub lished iu'tho looa| nemspapori. To Serjeant Haddrell; Defendant [Admitted that he had "got out of ii lucky." Percy Clark, an express driver, gave corroborative evidence. The car was travelling about ten miles an hour, and passed Bullot on the wrong side. He heard no horn, though hp was on the opposite corner.

i James Staples, newspaper reporter, i said the par passed him in Devon ;• street at tho rate of eight or ten miles -an hour. There seemed no reason ; why the car should not have proceeded . on the propor sido. The defendant, James Davidson stated that he, with a lady and child in the oar, went down the hill from the shop at half-speed, between seven and eight miles an hour, After orossing the railway line he put the machine on the low speed; He sounded his horn opposite Nathan's. Ho did not continue on Devon street, or turn to his right side, as he was afraid that he would frighten other horse traffic. There was no room to pass on tho outside. Bullot allowed him fully fifteen feet betweon the oxprcss and the kerb. To the polico: He thought Bull >t was misled in his evidence. The car was just moving j at any slower paoc it would have stopped. It was untruo that tho car struck the kerb at the Currie-Gill streets corner. Ernest Ellioit, employed by Mossr.i bole Bros., butchers, whose shop is on the corner, of Ourrie aud Devon streets, gave evidence that ho heard a bora sound, and saw defendant's motor-car coming at the rate of from four or five miles an hour. Bullot was turning the corner, and blookod tho way, so. ' that tho car had to stop or pass eu the ' inside The. oar did not go on the ' path. The express was quite ton teet ' away from the korb. The car was ' travelling yery slowly indoed. To tho polico: Ho did not examine the footpath after the car passod. Willie Snnmonds, a boy of Uyears i who was in the car at the time, said the I car was only going at about five miles h an, hour,

George Gunson, man' g 3r for Messrs [bkoates and Bockaert, gave expert evidence that on the low g W r th's car could only make four tuilos an hour. It could not, in it, best days, travel moro than flve milos an hour up aim u.kothe portion of Devon atresia-tw-een Currie street and the railway lino. It could moro than four milos an hour*

Tho Atngistratc said it nf as . i from the evidence of e l°*witnesses that he had, s oto wrong sido, and had, tomlsd ' ,' on ,ilat more than a waftinc *, ™ c w. er there was ample room V «*• and that on his right side. ()„ ■ I " ,n to pass defendant would. \y " lB " l ' st charge ♦Opts j, on the s#B9y , J . finod 20 * and lion was entered • •, cuar S e a convicv* without costs.