MOTORIST FINED

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21954, 1 December 1936, Page 4

MOTORIST FINED

CHARGE OF DANGEROUS DRIVING COLLISION WITH INSPECTOR’S CAR A fine of £2, with an order for costs, was imposed on Roger D. Cowper, a traveller, of Christchurch, who was charged before Mr H. Morgan, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court at Greymouth yesterday with driving a motor-car in a manner which might have been dangerous to the public. The charge, which was brought by the Main Highways traffic inspector (Mr J. H, Clark), arose out of a collision at Waimea between a car driven by the defendant and one driven by the inspector. The inspector said that about 4.30 p.m. on November 13 he was approaching a corner when he saw the defendant coming in the opposite direction well on his wrong side of the road. He estimated the speed of the car at 30 to 35 miles an hour. The inspector said that he himself was on his correct side of the road and was travelling about 25 miles an hour. When he saw that the defendant was not on his correct side of the road he reduced speed and pulled hard over to his correct side of the road and practically stopped. When the defendant saw that there was a possibility of an accident he endeavoured to pull over to his correct side of the road, and in so doing the back end of his car swung round and Iris rear bumper collided with the inspector's right-hand front guard, doing it extensive damage. The defendant, in evidence, said that when he saw the inspector the inspector was travelling at a terrific speed, and was right in the middle of the road. He made an effort to get out of the road, but did not succeed. The defendant said that he pulled out as far as he could. The magistrate, In imposing the fine, said that there was a direct conflict of evidence between the defence and the prosecution.

GREYMOUTH REGATTA CLUB

There were eight competitors in the second race for the Charles Haines Trophy, which was sailed off on the Grey river on Sunday by the Greymouth Regatta Club. The winner was Avis, sailed by D. Shuker, which had a handicap of 19’ minutes. Bounty (H. Blanchfield), off three minutes, was second, and Sea Fox (Bellamy), off scratch, was third. Vagabond, Awatea, and Pop Eye were disqualified. RAINFALL AT GREYMOUTH There was an increase of 2.66 inches in the rainfall at Greymouth during November, compared with the corresponding period of last year. This year the fall was 8.83 inches, and last year it was 6.17 inches. The rain fell on 20 days, compared with 15 last November, and the highest fall in November, 1936, was 1.78 inches, Compared with 1.04 in November “last year. GREYMOUTH MAGISTRATE’S COURT A sentence of six weeks’ imprisonment with hard labour was imposed on George Sim Mouat (Mr T. F. Brosnan), who was charged, before Mr H. Morgan, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court at Greymouth yesterday, with obscene exposure. On a further charge of obscene language he was convicted and discharged. For driving a motor-car without two independent brakes, Norman Freddy was fined 15s and ordered to pay costs. A fine of 10s, with an order for costs, was imposed on William Richardson, who was charged with failing to produce a driver’s license for his motor-cycle. The case was brought bv the Greymouth Borough Council inspector, Mr H. Lane. Children’s Court A charge of stealing a bicycle was brought against a boy of 15, who appeared in the Childiren’s Court before Mr Morgan. The charge was dismissed. The boy said that as he was going to work the bicycle had been given to him by a man. GREYMOUTH CUSTOMS RETURNS COLLECTIONS DURING LAST MONTH There was a decrease of £423 9s in the total collections at the Greymouth customs office during November, compared with the corresponding period of last year. In November this year £11,584 7s 2d was collected at the office, and in the same month last year the figure was £12,008 4s 2d. Customs revenue amounted to £3995 7s 5d for November, 1936, compared with £3756 Is 8d last year. Sales tax increased from £2087 8s 6d last year to £2841 15s 8d this year. GREYMOUTH VITAL STATISTICS The vital statistics for Greymouth for the month just ended, with the figures for the corresponding month of last year in parenthesis, were;— Births, 22 (29); deaths, 13 (7); marriage notices issued, 12 (9); marriages by registrar, 2 (1). SAFE STOLEN FROM FRUIT SHOP A small safe containing private c’ cuments and business books was stolen from the premises of F. Sadler, a fruiterer, of Tainui street, Greymouth, some time between 11 o'clock on Saturday night and 9 o’clock on Sunday morning. Entry to the premises was gained By the forcing of the back door. TENNIS MATCH AT REEFTON Reefton and Waiuta Tennis Clubs met in the first competition game of the season. The visitors were entertained at dinner and afternoon tea by the Reefton Club. Reefton won the match.