MOTOR AND SHEEP

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10718, 11 October 1912, Page 5

MOTOR AND SHEEP

CLAIM FOR DAMAGES. A case of some interest to motorists was heard in the Magistrate's Court at Masterton yesterday, ill which Braddock Bros., farmers, of Kaiparoro, claimed from Mita Wnata, of Gladstone, a sum of £l9 7s 6d. Mr Robinson appeared for the plaintiffs, and Mr Mornn for the defendant. For the plaintiffs it was alleged that on the evening of September 2nd a mob of sheep was being driven between the Taratahi saleyards and Masterton, when the defendant came along in his motor-car. The car, which was coming from Masterton,' ran over a> number of the sheep, killing two outright, and so damaging twelve others that they were rendered valueless. The sheep were valued pt £l3 10s. A sum of 17s 6d was claimed for an ox'tra day's droving, and £n for general damages. Evidence for tho plaintiff was given by E. Braddock, A. M. Sneddon ''who was .driivng cattle behind the sheep), C. Sneddon (who was driving the sheep.) ,T. C. Haigh, and E. M. "Bannister. The latter stated that he was passing the mob of sheep on -"the right side, when the car came along from the opposite direction at a rate of about thirty miles an hour, and ran into the sheep. The defence was that the defendant- was driving along the right side of the road, when ho saw a trap driven by Mr Bannister, coming in the opposite direction. He sounded his horn, but the !trap did not shift, and the defendant was compelled to keep to the centre of the ro.id. After hearing the evidence. His Worship gave iudcrment for the plaintiffs for £ll 2s fid and costs.