MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 February 1918, Page 3

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

YESTERDAYS PROCEEDINGS. (Before Mr. A. Crooke, S.M.). LICENSING CASES. William George Emenv was char"ed that on February ">, 1018, at New ]>hmontli, being the licensee of (lie Rnyul Hotel, lie did foil without unnecessary delay to admit, the sub-inspector of police and an inspector of licensed premises lo his premises He was also charged villi, on the same date. obstructing the sub-inspector of police and an inspector of licensed premises in the discharge of bis doty by preventing him from enter in? the tap-room of his premises. Mr. A. TJ. Johnstone appeared for defendant and asked for an adjournment as defendant had had to go out of town f.-' n short time. The hearing'was fixed f<>- March 21. BREACH OF BY-LAWS. Sidney Novell was charged with carrying a passenger on n motor cycle otherwise than in a side-car. The offence took place in Courtenay street on the morning of February 14, He was fined 'be sum of 20s (costs 7s). ALLEGED FAST DRIVING. The hearing of the charge against Ar. tlmr Wilding Ogle Waitara, of driving a motor car along Devon street on ]sceember 20 last at a speed greater than 30 miles an hour was continued. Mr. R. Day, Inspector for the Borough of Now Plymouth, prosecuted, and Mr. A Tf •lohnstono defended. The evidence given on the first day of the hearing (Jannary 24) was to the effect that defer. 1ant was coming in to New Plvnien'th from Waitara in his motor ear- on 'he day in question, and when at the June tion of Devon street and Mangeroi > m Old Hospital Road) ho collided with a oar driven by a Mr. drover, which w*c coming out of the latter road on to Devon street It was. alleged that defiant was driving in a manner ouch ns was dangerous at the tin.w, eonslderh" the State of the traffle, and that he f.rfed ft, Stop when the colliaion. V.tb the other ear owumd. Tfc» tase for the nroseeut on had eonarudVd, and defendant was giving evidence when the case was adjourrcd. Defendant stated that ho was not travelling at anything like Hit. speed alleged (44 to 50 miles) at the Um> of the accident, and he was of opinion that (Trover* car gtruck him and it -y» not he who straek Grover's car. Evidence for the defence was given bv E. G. Nosworthy, Waitara, who was k passenger in defendant's oar at the time af the accident. Mr. Johnstone addressed the bench, i raising the point that a motor e ar was not a vehicle within the meaning if tre Motor Regulation Act, so far as the requirement to stop when in collision with another vehicle wrr concerned. The Magistrate, in giving his decision, said he was satisfied from the e-i-lence ■that defendant was travelling more than 20 miles- an hour. Regarding the matter of. driving in a manner dangerous to other traffic, he thought it \v«» taearabfnt

on the driver of a vphicle to keen a closer look-out on his left side than on fie right, and he thought from the evidence that defendant had not done all he might in that respect. As to not sto;:(.:>;:• when the accident occurred, he thought that, apart, from any by-law, any man whose car struck another .siillicion'lly to turn it into the side channel should havstopped to ascertain if any damage had heen done. Ho thought perhaps the fact that it was race day and near the time for the lirst race was the excuse for not having stopped. On the first charge defendant was convicted and lined ,C2; on the second he was convicted only; and on the third charge he was convicted and fined 10s. Defendant was ordered to pay costs, amounting to £3 13s fid.