THE STREET CORNER BY LAW

Press, Volume L, Issue 8676, 28 December 1893, Page 3

THE STREET CORNER BY LAW

At the Resident Magistrate's Court, Christ church, yesterday, before Messrs H. W. Bishop, R.M., and J. P. Jameson, J.P,,\ Alfred Muinford, jun., Albert Brown, Too May, Chas. Large, Jas. Rodger, J. T.\ Matson, Fred C Parsons, Jas. Hunt, Edwd. Page, H. Simpson, R. C. DrinkweU and Benj. Drury, cabmen, carriers and private persons, were charged with having on December 19th driven vehicles -acro3S the intersection of Colombo and Hereford streets, their horses going faster than at a walking pace. Inspector Broham said that for a few days after the by-law came into force the police did "not interfere. The widest publicity had been given to the new rule, bat nobody seemed to take toy notice of it. Officers were then stationed at the places named in the by-law, and the present informations were the first lot of those found committing the offence. The police bad some difficulty in getting names ; ia many instances the offenders, when accosted, drove away and got clear off. Of the persons charged some now pleaded ignorance of the by-law, others , that though not walking, their were I going very slowly, while only one man said ! that he was in haste and had to get on; nearly ail seemed to dislike very much the penalty which was inflicted. Mr Bishop said, the by-law enabled him to impose a fine of £5, but as these were the first cases of tbe kind he did not intend to do so. From what the defendants mainly, had said there appeared to be a feeling that the police were behaving in a harassing manner. This was not "bo. They had to carry out the by-law to the beat of their ability. If the by-law was found to press hardly and unduly on the conduct of traffic, it was the City Council, representing the citizens, who were responsible for that, aud. in the meantime, it was the duty of all to conform themselves to the rule. If it was found that unreasonable difficulty-were puo in the way of the police, it would be his duty to support lliem in the feture by inflicting heavier penalties. The present dsfendanta were each fined ss, with costs 7s.