MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 October 1915, Page 8

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

BY-LAW CASES. A sitting of the Magistrate's Court; was held yesterday, Mr. A. Crooke, S.M., presiding. DRIVING A CAR TOO PAST. Leslie Samuel Dutton, for whom Mr. A. H. Johnstone appeared, was charged with driving a motor-car across Brougham street, at the intersection of Devon street, at more than a speed allowed by the by-laws, i.e., eight miles an hour. The defendant pleaded not guilty. Plain - clothes Constable Fitzgibbon stated that he saw Dutton drive past at a pace which enabled hirn to get up the Brougham street hill without changing his gear. Everard Gilinour stated that he was driving along Devon street when he saw Button coming along Brougham street. Witness stopped, for if he liad not done so he did not believe he would have been there that day. He thought the defendant was travelling at from 30 to 40 miles an hour. Richard Jury estimated defendant's speed at 30 to 85 miles an hour, and W. F. iPaul estimated it at 25 miles an hour. The defendant stated that he saw Mr. Gilmour coming along Devon street, and he saw that it would be easier for Mr. Gilmour to stop than for him; in fact, if he had stopped there would have been a collision. Approaching Devon street witness was travelling about ten miles an hour, and when he saw Mr. Gilmour he increased his speed to get well clear of the latter's car. Witness changed his gear to get up the Brougham street hill; it would have been impossible to climb the hill without doing so. Cross-examined, witness said that when he increased his speed he could not have been going at a greater speed than twenty miles an hour. If he had, it would not have been necessary to change gear. William Groombridge, foreman for the Union Steamship Company, who was travelling in defendant's car, said the car was travelling at a moderate pace. The Magistrate said it was clear the car was travelling at more than eight miles an hour. Defendant started to cross Devon street at ten miles an hour and admitted that he further increased his speed, clearly establishing that he 1 was going at more than eight miles an hour. A fine of £2 and costs 19s was j imposed. OTHER CASES. 1 Frank C. Plumtree pleaded guilty to ; driving a motor-car at night without a j rear light. He was fined 10s and costs I 7s. , Jack Jackish was fined 10s and costs 1 £2 2s for driving a vehicle oil a county road at night without lights. Mr. J. H. i Quilliam prosecuted. j For driving an unlicensed vehicle in i the Taranaki county Samuel Fabier was i fined £3 and costs £2 Og Od. Mr. 1 Quilliam prosecuted. Norman Healy was fined ss, and costs i 7s, for riding a bicycle without a bell r fettaehed to it. \ Cyril Lealand was fined 10s, and costs e 7s, for leaving a vehicle in the street g unattended and the wheel unlocked. For 9 similar offence John Edward Bond was fined ss, and costs 7*> '