NOT REPORTED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 129, 13 March 1936, Page 6

NOT REPORTED

TAXI INJURES A CHILD. OMISSION ON PART OF DRIVER. OTHER CASE,S HEARD IN COURT. There was an average list of cases for hearing before Mr C. R. Orr Walker, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court this morning. William James Pidgeon, taxi proprietor, was charged with having failed to! rep'ort an accident in which personal injuries had been suffered. Defendant pleaded guilty. Sergeant J. F. Cleary said that defendant’s taxi was left in reverse gear, and, when he went to start up the vehicle ran back and injured a child, whose collarbone was broken. He took the child to its home and left it on the footpath. Defendant said he did not know he had to report such a case. He put the child on the path, and he (the child) at once rode off on its tricycle. Defendant added that he did, net know the child had been hurt. Defendant was fined £l, with 10s costs. Unlicensed Drivers. Hugh Hamilton, of Invercargill, who. did not appear, was charged with having driven a motor-car when he was not the holder of a driver’s license. It was stated that defendant had, driven his car into another vehicle, and had not been able to produce a license, though he later said lie thought his firm had taken out one for him. This was found to be not the case. Defendant was fined ss, with 10s costs. A plea of guilty to a similar charge was entered by Mr G. C. Nicoll on behalf of Louis Matheson. It was stated that defendant had previously held a license. Defendant was fined, 10s, with 10s costs. Lightless Cycles. The following were charged with having- ridden cycles at night without lights: — W. Burgess, fined 10s, with 10s costs ; William Tait, ss, with 10s costs; Rita Tait, convicted and discharged. Maintenance Cases. On a charge of being in arrears in respect of payments under a maintenance order, H. N. O’Reilly was sentenced to one month in gaol, warrant to bo suspended so long as payments under the present order are kept up and 5s a month is paid off the arrears. On a similar charge W. O. Harvey was also sentenced to one month in gaol, warrant to he suspended so long as payments on the order are kept up and 10s a month is paid off the arrears. Traffic Regulation Breach. A plea cf not guilty was entered by James Maxwell to a charge of having operated a heavy motor vehicle in West Street without having taken out a heavy traffic license. Mr L. A. Charles represented the licensing authority, the Ashburton Borough Council, and said that the license fee had since been paid. The Borough Inspector stated that he saw the loaded lorry in the railway yards. It was r?ot registered at that time (January 30; Six days later the vehicle was registered for February only. Later he paid for two months (January and February), the first request having been declined on a- technicality. Defendant had told witness he would not pay to register the lorry for three days in January. Defendant said it seemed the council* wanted all the profit for the work. The Magistrate: Well, it might pay you to give up the business. Robert Rogers, driver of the lorry, stated that lie had brought the load from defendant’s yard.' Defendant was fined ss, with 13s Court costs, 4s witness’s expenses, ancl 10s 6d, solicitor’s fee. Counsel said the case was brought as an example. Civil Business. Judgment for plaintiff by default was given in the case of the N.Z. Farmers’ Co-op, Association, Ltd., v J. J. Cairns, £1 5s lOd, with 10s costs.