WEST COAST NEWS

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22110, 4 June 1937, Page 6

WEST COAST NEWS

ACCIDENT AT WATAROA JURY AWARDS PLAINTIFF £ll2O MOTORIST HELD TO HAVE BEEN NEGLIGENT Damages amounting to £ll2O 17s were awarded to the plaintiff by the jury in the Supreme' Court at Greymouth yesterday, In a case in which Corry Robert Coulson claimed £ll2O 17s from William Smith for injuries received in au accident between a motor-cycle driven by the plaintiff and a motor-car driven by the defendant. His Honour Mr Justice Johnston was on the Bench. The case was adjourned by his Honour for further consideration. The plaintiff, a carpenter, of Paroa, alleged negligence by the defendant, a farmer, of Matainui, South Westland, in backing his motor-car out of a gateway on February 26, 1934, involving the plaintiff in an accident, in •which he suffered permanent injuries. The plaintiff alleged that the defendant had been negligent in not allowing the plaintiff to pass by the rear of his motor-car. The plaintiff claimed by way of special damages: (1) 134 weeks' wages at £5 5s a week, £703 10s; (2) hospital and medical expenses, £67 7s; (3) general damages, £350. Negligence was denied by the defendant, who asserted that the plaintiff was negligent in that he failed to keep a proper lookout, failed to keep to his proper side of the road in passing the motor-car, driving his motor-cycle at an excessive speed in the circumstances, and failing to stop his machine in time to avoid a collision, and in failing to manage it with due care and skill. The plaintiff originally brought proceedings in the Supreme Court on June 8, 1936, when he secured a verdict in his favour from the jury. Legal points were reserved for- later argument, and this took place at Christchurch on August 27, 1936. when his Honour reserved his decision. This was given on December 11, when the plaintiff was non-suited with costs. Mr C. J. O'Regan (Wellington) represented the plaintiff and Mr W. F. Tracy (Christchurch), together .with Mr M. B. James (Hokitika), represented the defendant. Mr Tracy made a formal application for a non-suit or for judgment for the defendant, on the yround that the plaintiff on his evidence had shown that there was no negligence by the defendant which had caused the accident, and that it was the negligence of the plaintiff himself which had caused the injury. His Honour said that he.did not propose to hear argument upon this. He would reserve Mr Tracy's right to deal with this later. The jury retired at 1 p.m. and returned at 3.30 p.m. with the following replies to issues put to them by his Honour:— (1) Was the defendant negligent?— lYes.. (2) M so, wherein was he negligent? -*The defendant knew the cycle was coming, and only half a mile or a little * more away. By the time he looked up the road, saw the cyclist, walked to Hie car, Started tip and! reversed, the cyelist must have been very ,plose -when Smith backed on to the road. If the cyclist was travelling at 30 miles an hour he would have reached the defendant in approximately one minute: from the time the defendant saw him. The defendant gave no sign by blowing his horn or otherwise that he intended to back on to the road. In the jury's opinion the defendant's action would not be done by a man who used ordinary and reasonable care. (3), Vfas there contributory negligence on/the part of the plaintiff?— (4) What damage did the plaintiff euffer?—Special damages £770 17s, general damages £350. Mr O'Regan moved for judgment. His Honour noted his request and adjourned the case for further consideration. Mr Tracy was granted an extension ot time to eight days in which to ap- : ply. for a non-suit or new trial. RUGBY FOOTBALL WESTLAND JUNIOR TEAM CHOSEN The Westland junior representative team to play Greymouth Juniors, at Hokitika, to-morrow, is:—Backs, Baird (Excelsior, captain), Thome (Pirates), E. Wells, (Pirates). C. Cron (Koka. tahi), H. Tuhuru, S. Tuhuru, H. Tainui (Arahura); forwards, Harris (Kiwi), Leslie (Kiwi). Gleeson (Excelsior), Havill (Kokatahi), Pinch (Arahura), D. Thompson (Ross), Crase (Pirates), Patterson (Kokatahi). Emergencies: Finnerty (Ross). Bradley (Kiwi), Stollery (Excelsior), Moar (Ross), Aberhart (Pirates). Bradley (Excelsior). RUGBY LEAGUE INANGAHUA SUB-CENTRE Mr C. Coxall (president) presided at the weekly meeting of the Inangahua Rugby League Sub-Centre. It was resolved that referees at country matches be asked to appoint timekeepers for games in their districts. Messrs R. Davis, S. Whitehead, and C. I McElwee were appointed senior selectors, and Mr Davis was appointed chairman. The appointment of a junior selector was left in abeyance! until names had been submitted by junior clubs. X The White Horse Cup (senior) competition: and the Morns Cup (junior) '(competition were fixed at three rounds. \A seven-a-side tourney for the Klpg's Birthday was postponed, and it wa% resolved to play competition matfehes for clubs. ■ Th«\ following round of games was. drawrilup for to-morrow:— . Senide Grade: Waluta v. Reefton, at Waiuta (referee. Mr Davis); Waratah y. Inangahua Junction, at Reefton (referee, Mr Scott). Junior Gride —Inangahua Junction v. Refifton, at \. Reefton (referee, Mr Whitehead) ;,«jrey Valley v. Waiuta, at Ikamatua. (retiree, Mr Letham). June 9—Seni% Grade: Waratah v. Reiefton, at Reefton (referee. Mr Scott); Inangahua Junction v. Waiuta, at Inangahua Junction (referee, Mr Whitehead). Junior Grade: Waiuta v. Inangahua Junction, at Inangahua Junction; Reefton v. Grey Valley, at Reefton. HOCKEY MATCHES FOR TO-MORROW The following hockey matches will be played at Greymouth to-morrow:— Pacific v. Wesley, at the Recreation . ground, at 1.30 p.m. (referees. Messrs Iw. J. Butler and T. McDonnell); Te Rama v. Mawhera. at 2.45 p.m. (Messrs Smith and Newton): Cobden and Tahua byes.

WESTPORT BOROUGH COUNCIL ADMINISTRATION OF OUTSIDE STAFF i I ALTERATIONS TO BE MADE An alteration in the system of ad- ! ministration of the outside work of the Westport Borough Council was decided upon at the monthly meeting on Wednesday night, when the council resolved, upon the recommendation of the general purposes committee, to terminate the appointment of the Act-ing-Borough Engineer (Mr G. H. Hogg) on June 30, and to call applications for a working foreman at a waee of £6 a week. "There were present: The Mayor (Mr J. Kilkenny) and Crs. J. A. Stowell, O. L. Nahr, E. R. Fox, C. M. Robertson, G. Taylor, J. Bird, M. O'Dea, and J. Radford. It was also decided, on the recommendation of the general purposes committee, that the engagement of Messrs Vickerman and Lancaster as supervising engineers of the street contract be terminated as at April 30, 1937, subject to a final inspection being made by them when the work covered by the contract with Messrs Fulton Hogan is completed. The County Engineer (Mr C. F. Schadick) will be asked if he will prepare plans and specifications for the proposed street and footpath loan for submission to the Local Government Loans Board. It was decided to contribute £SO towards'the estimated cost of £3OO for carrying out a soil survey of pakihi lands in the Buller district. Accounts totalling £3234 12s Bd, made up as follows, were passed for payment:—General account, £1231 13s 9d; gas, £522 15s lOd; water, £175 14s 3d; electric, £496 2s 2d; street loan, £787 6s 8d; electric loan, £2l. The request for the appointment of an inspector was referred to the general purposes committee. It was decided that the flood-light erected at the memorial gates to Victoria square be left there permanently. The abattoir manager reported that the following stock was slaughtered during the month of May, the figures for May, 1936, being shown in parenthesis:—Cattle. 195 (161); sheep, 440 (445); pigs, 139 (121); calves, 18 (23); lambs, 19 (34). Fees collected totalled £126 9s 3d (£ll4 2s 7d). A letter from Mr Andrew Phillips asking for permission to station a pie cart in the street was granted, subject to the payment of a licence fee. Protests from three independent milk vendors in the borough—two in writing from Messrs M. O'Dea, sen., and R, A. Adams, and one in person from Mr A. Woodward —against the request made by United Dairies, Ltd., that the council should compel all vendors in tl.e borough to supply milk In sealed bottles, and also that the council should fix the price, were received. It was decided to refer the matter to the general purposes committee. The Westport Aero Club was granted permission to erect a hangar on the North Beach aerodrome, subject to the right of removal, and was also granted the use of the aerodrome, subject to being required to keep the ground in order. The Buller Rugby Union wrote asking the council to erect additional flood-lights on Victoria square to light up the lower part of the ground for training purposes. It was decided to erect an additional flood-light on the bottom ground. A grant of £IOO towards the cost of erecting a footway on the Buller bridge was authorised. HOUSE WRECKED AT STILLWATER NEW TRIAL AT GREYMOUTH The new trial of Maurice Moore, aged 65, on a charge of wilfully damaging by explosives, at Arnold river, near Stillwater, a six-roomed house, valued at £SOO, the property of James Deen Brosnan, was begun yesterday afternoon in the Supreme Court at Greymouth, before his Honour Mr Justice Northcroft arid a jury. The accused had pleaded not guilty to the charge at the first hearing on Wednesday, when the jury disagreed. Mr F. A. Kitchingham conducted the case for the Crown, and Mr J. W. Hannan appeared for the accused. Similar evidence to that given at the hearing in the Magistrate's Court and the Supreme Court was given. The hearing was adjourned until this morning. GREYMOUTH TROTTING CLUB WIN-AND-PLACE BETTING SYSTEM TO BE USED A decision to advise the Canterbury Owners' and Breeders* Association, in reply to a letter about the system of. betting to be adopted by the club, that in future the win-and-place system would be used by the club, was made by the committee of the Greymouth Trotting Club, at a meeting on Tuesday night. Mr H. W. Kitchingham presided. The president reported that the fol- ! lowing dates had been submitted to the conference for the coming season: Spring meeting, Saturday, October 23. and Monday. October 25, 1937; summer meeting, Wednesday. January 5, and Thursday, January 6, 1938. It was decided Jthat Mr H. F. Nicoll should be elected an honorary life member of the club, in recognition of his work for the sport. Mr C. L. Kettle was appointed delegate to the New Zealand conference. A suggestion was received from the Owners' and Breeders' Association, Westport. that local, races should be held, and it was decided to notify the association that the committee regretted being unable to accede to its request. BASKETBALL DRAW FOR TO-MORROW The following are the basketball matches to be played at Greymouth to-morrow:— A Grade—Runanga A v. Convent Old Girls B, at McGinley Park, at 2 p.m. (referee, Miss M. E. Ray): United A v. Blaketown, at McGinley Park, at 2.15 p.m. (Miss M. Tennent); Technical Old Girls A v. Technical A, at swimming bath court, at 2.30 p.m. (Miss Gardner); Convent Old Girls' A v. Technical Old Girls' B, at swimming bath cqurt, at 3.20 p.m. (Miss Kerins). B Grade—Section 1: Technical B v. Runanga B, at Columba courts, at 2.30 p.m. (Miss McGuire); Cobden Convent Old Girls' A v. Technical Old Girls C. at Columba courts, at 3.20 p.m. (Miss Beirne); Convent Old Girls C v. St. Mary's A, at Columba courts, at 2.30 p.m. (Miss McNiven). Section 2: Woolworths v. Technical C, at McGinley Park, at 3 p.m. (Miss Griffiths); United B v. Cobden Convent Old Girls' B, at Columba court, at 3.20 p.m. (Miss McGinley); Runanga C v. Taylorville, at McGinley Park, 3.15 p.m. (Mis Heckling); Tainui a bye.

BULLER LICENSING COMMITTEE APPLICATIONS AND RENEWALS GRANTED The annual meeting of the Buller Licensing Committee was held in the Courthouse* Westport, on Wednesday afternoon. The following members of the committee were on the bench:— Messrs Raymond Ferner, S.M. (chairman). J. Menzies, R. Patterson, G. Taylor, F. Turley, and the Hon. W. H. Mclntyre, M.L.C. The following applications were granted:— > Transfers of Licence —J. N. Jeffrey, permanent transfer to Athol Hawthorne Quinn, City Hotel, Westport; Public Trustee (executor estate William Patrick Kiely), to Elizah Kiely, Victoria Hotel, Westport; Andrew George Douthett, jun., to Charles Leslie Husband, Pines Hotel, Fairdown. Applications for Renewal of Wholesale Licences—Bailie and Company, Ltd., Westport; Griffen and Smith, Ltd., Westport. Applications for Issue of Publican's Licence—A. H. Quinn, City Hotel, Westport; William T. Spence, Prince of Wales Hotel, Westport; Elizabeth Kiely, Victoria Hotel, Westport; J. C. C. Fayen, Railway Hotel, Westport; Bertha Sherlock, Railway Hotel, Granity; Jas. H. L. Barry, Club Hotel, Blackball. Applications for Renewal of Publican's Licence—Joseph Brown, Melbourne Hotel; O. L. Nahr, Grand Hotel; A. Kj Holder, Criterion Hotel; M. A. Prince, Black and White Hotel; F. E. Newman, Post Office Hotel; Thomas Methven, Cosmopolitan Hotel; S. A. Wingate, Hotel Buller; J. A. D. Daily, Royal Hotel; John McManus, Commer-

cial Hotel; James Henderson, Larsen's Hotel; Agnes Cox, Union Hotel; Elizabeth V. Ayers, Ayers Hotel (ail Westport); Robert Curragh, Toll's Hotel, Denniston; Laura Baghurst, Denniston Hotel, Denniston; J. H, Dudderidge. Mount Rochfort Hotel, Denniston; Bessie Morley, Royal Hotel, Denniston; Robert N. Roper, Crown Hotel, Burnetts Face; James A. Watson, Watson's Hotel, Granity: Stephen Peggie, Criterion Hotel, Millerton; Henry William Zimmerman, Tramway Hotel, Millerton; John Baxendale, McNarn's Hotel, Ngakawau; W. J, Turner, Kynnersley Hotel, Waimario; Alice R. Quinn, Empire Hotel, Seddonville; James Costello, Star Hotel, Cape Foulwind; John H. Powell, European Hotel, Charleston; Constantino Mangos, Post Office Hotel. Lyell;. Mary Jane Welch, Welcome Inn Hotel, Lyell; George E. Talbot, Empire Hotel, Waiuia; David Wallace, Junction Hotel, Stillwater; Hugh McLuskie, Blackball Hotel, Blackball; Hannah J. Campbell, Dominion Hotel, Blackball; Murty O'Donnell, Paparoa Hotel, Roa; George Chapman, Union Hotel, Wallsend; Charles Edward Senior, Buck's Head Hotel, Taylorville; Percy George Low, Cosmopolitan Hotel, Dobson; John Morressy, Cobden Hotel. Cobden; William Kells, Clark's Hotel, Cobden; Frederick Heslin, Dunollie Hotel, Dunollie. The following applications for accommodation licences were granted and the annual licence fees fixed at the sums stated: David Moir, Railway Hotel, Sergeant's Hill, £7 10s: Charles Leslie Husband, Pines Hotel, Fairdown, £5; William Eddy, Twelve Mile HoteL Tiroroa, £10; James McTaggart, Rapahoe Hotel, Rapahoe, £ls. Applications for renewal of accommodation licences: Mary A. McCann, Shamrock Hotel, Addisons, £4; Guy Clayworth, Coronation Hotel, Te Kuha, £2; Lance L. W. Heaphy, Berlins Hotel, Berlins, £10; Albert Wricht. Merriiics Hotel, Merrijigs, £5;

Edward William Victor Jones, Big River Hotel, Big River, £7 10s; James Edward Reiha, Batira's Hotel, Mawheraiti, £l2; John F. McNamara, Rose and Thistle Hotel, Blackwater, £l2; John Green, Dominion Hotel, .Ikamatua, £l6; Thomas Dunn, All Nations' Hotel, Barrytown, £ls. John Richard Corby, Walter's Hotel, Seddonville, was granted renewal of a publican's licence, a certificate of waiver, and leave to close the hotel. An application by Arthur D. Batt for a publican's licence and an application by Frederick Keating for renewal of a publican's licence with regard to the Albion Hotel, Westport, were adjourned to give the new proprietor of the hotel, A. D. Batt. an opportunity to comply with certain requisitions, including the demolition of a wooden building used as staff quarters at the rear of the hotel. Samuel Paul's application for renewal of a publican's licence, was adjourned pending compliance with certain requisitions. A similar course was taken regarding an application by John G. Curragh (Alpine Hotel, Burnett's Face) for renewal of a publican's licence. The annual meeting was adjourned to the date of the next quarterly meeting of the committee. KIWI FOOTBALL CLUB'S DANCE AT HOKITIKA The annual dance of the Kiwi Football Club was held on Wednesday night. As usual the ball proved a popular one, there being a large attendance. During the c. ning the West Coast amateur fox-trot competition was held, the winners being Mr Todd and Miss Neilson.

HOKITIKA DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL LAND WANTED FOR HOUSING SCHEME Mr A. C. Armstrong presided at the monthly meeting of the Hokitika District High School Committee. The Lands and Survey Department, Hokitika. wrote asking if the committee would consent to a part of the education r>3rve, facing Park, Sale, and Rolleston streets, being transferred for use in the housing scheme. It was decided to reply that the committee was not in favour of handing over any of the area, as it might be required later when the school buildings were being enlarged. The principal of the Greymouth Technical High School advised, in reply to a further request for the use of the cooking room at Hokitika for social purposes, that he could not allow the use of the room on Monday evenings. He said that it was necessary to have the room prepared overnight for Tuesday's classes. The • Canterbury Education Board wrote confirming the appointment of Mr L. Wilson to the primary staff as from May 24. It was decided to recommend to the board the appointment of Mr J. Bell to another vacancy on the primary staff. The chairman reported having been interviewed regarding the cost ot transport of secondary pupils from Kokatahi. One parent had to pay more than £3 a month in his fares to send two children to school. It was decided to write to the Minister urging increased travelling allowances for children, from the Kokatahi-Koiterangi districts, who wished to obtain secondary education.

It was decided to suggest to the Minister that revenue from educational endowments in the district should be made available for this purpose. The headmaster, Mr J. G. Johnston* reported that the rolls and attendances of both departments were being well maintained. Mr P. R. Muirhead had begun duties on the secondary staff, and Miss Sinclair was relieving on the primary staff. On June 1 and 2 the secondary department had been visited by Mr J. E. Learning, inspector, of secondary schools. Rainfall recorded at the Reefton School of Mines for May wap 8.26 inches on 22 days. The maximum fall was 1.38 inches on May 8.

GREYMOUTH PERSONAL NOTES Mr C. R. McGintey was yesterday admitted as a of the Supreme Court, on the motion of Mr J. W. Hannan. The application was heard before his Honour Mr Justice Nortbcroft. Miss P. McKenna (Christchurch* is visiting Greymouth. Mr T. Mcintosh left yesterday on a visit to Christchurch. Mrs E. V, Arthur left yesterday for Christchurch. Miss Ursula Callaghan, of the teaching staff of the Blaketown School, has resigned, in view of her approaching marriage, and will leave the school next week