MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 September 1939, Page 9

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

SITTING IN MASTERTON TODAY. MANY MOTORING CASES. A sitting of the Magistrate’s Court was held in Masterton this morning before Mr H. P. Lawry, S.M. A youth whose name was suppressed was placed on probation for two years for the conversion of a motor car and on a charge of theft of a dessert knife was convicted and discharged Angus William McLeod was charged that, being the owner of a dog which was dangerous, he failed to keep it under proper control. Senior-Sergeant G. A. Doggett said a woman was walking along William Street when the dog rushed out and bit her foot, damaging her shoe and slightly injuring her foot. He understood that the dog had attacked a man about twelve months ago. McLeod was fined £l, with costs 18s. Hugh Clifton Bellis and Ewen Scott Beiliss, of Tinui, were both charged ' with operating an unregistered motor truck and with having no warrant of fitness. Mr N. G. F. Whiteman, who appeared for defendant’s, said it was purely a technical offence. Defendants owned a farm property at the end of a country road and were taking the vehicle from one paddock on the property to another to carry out topdressing. The vehicle was used purely as a farm implement and actually was inside a gate which shut off the fenced from the unfenced portion of the road Defendants were under a misapprehension that they could use the road for that purpose. Each defendant was fined ss, with 10s costs, for using an unregistered motor vehicle and were convicted and discharged on the second charge. Noel Harold Wallace, who was charged with failing to stop a motor vehicle when requested to do so by a constable in Masterton and also with a similar charge in Carterton was fined £l, with 10s costs, on each charge. On a third charge of driving a car at a speed which might have been dangerous to the public, his licence was suspended for a month. Albert Charles Brown, for driving a car in a negligent manner, was fined £3 with costs 10s.- For not having a driver’s licence he was fined , £1 with costs 10s. Reginald Frank Thomson was fined £2, with costs for driving a car in Masterton at a speed exceeding 30 miles per hour. For not displaying a tail light on his motor vehicle, Terras Alfred Birch was fined 10s, with costs 10s. Emily Ellen Woolland, for parking a car in Queen Street on the off-side of another vehicle, was fined 10s and costs. For having no light on his bicycle, Vincent Edgar Williams was fined 10s and costs. ' The Borough Inspector, Mr J. McGregor, proceeded against James A. Yules for driving, a motor vehicle in High Street at a speed exceeding 30 miles per hour. Defendant was fined £2 and costs. On the information of Inspector McGregor, Douglas Norman, for riding a bicycle without a sufficient light, was fined 10s and costs. William C. Lambess. for having no tail light on his car, was fined 5s and costs. The information was laid by Inspector McGregor. For having an unregistered wireless set, Walter Brown was fined £2 and costs 10s. On a similar charge, Mabel Harris was fined 10s and costs. DEFENDED CASE. Edward Allan Tozer pleaded not guilty to a charge of failing to give way to traffic approaching from the right at the intersection of Queen Street and Russell Street on September 1. The case arose out of a collision between a car driven by defendant and one driven by Mrs J. Robertson. Mrs Robertson, in evidence, said she saw no traffic approaching along Queen Street. The lights at the bowser station on the corner might be confusing. She had intended to cross straight across Queen Street. Mr C. C. Marsack, who appeared for defendant, contended that the collision was caused by Mrs Robertson's car turning to the right, whereas if it had continued straight ahead there would have been no collision. Defendant admitted that he did not see Mrs Robertson’s car until just before the collision and that he had had two “stouts” two hours before the accident. He had been watching another car proceeding southward along Queen Street just prior to the collision. The magistrate held that defendant should have given way and imposed.a fine of £1 and costs.