ON THORNDON QUAY

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 69, 18 September 1925, Page 8

ON THORNDON QUAY

ACCIDENT ON RACE DAY

MOTORIST BEFORE THE COURT,

An accident which occurred on Thorndon quay on the evening of 20th AugUßt was investigated at' the Magistrate's Court td-day, when Harold Brown, wine and "spirit, merchant, of Wellington, was charged with dangerous driving and with failing-.to report' an accident.to the police. .-'■ -. '. . /.' -' ..... „ ' ..'-..

The first witness was John Gratton MacKenzie, Director of Parks-and lieserves, who said on the '.day of the accident he was driving through Kaiwaria at a speed of about fifteen miles ah hour. At the Thorndon ■ tei-minus ■ a motor-car passed him on the wrong- side of- the •roajlat a speed of-about 25 to 30 miles per hour.i When witness reached Thorndon station the same car was on the: footpath, facing north. Defendant was present, and a- man. was lying injured on tho footpath. - ''„':.'.■. .V To Mr. M'Grath: It was .raining, fairly dark, and cars were coming .in from the races with three lights'on. ,'..'. >Erio Kiddiford, station .owner, 'said he waa . returning* from, the : racss after 5 o'clock,.and-saw the defendant after the accident; Witness drove in* at about. 15 or 20 miles an hour, and-oii the way in from. Trentham was passed by the defendant near Dalgety's store. -Brown was going pretty, fast. "I saw defendant's car strike the man," said witness, "and his car turned. I don't.know where the man came from: ■; Brown's ;car : was, icompletely reversed from the way it /. was going, arid' had two vs;heels on .the. pavement. I should say'putting -the brakes_on made,it skid.". Witness s^id the injured man 'was lying unconscious, so. witness put him in. Brown's car,, and he was conveyed to the Hospital. "I,reported the accident to the police because I thought it was my duty to do so," said witness. "No one asked me .to report it."', : :,'.-' '■."•'■ "•. " ••" ■■■'■"- ';."•• ""';.

The.Bench: "Quite right." ' ■ Archie Dockiery, a , tram conductor, said.he saw defendant's car approaching. very quickly,, run into an ; bid, man standing pri the footpath, and come, to rest against the fencei .Witness said he heard Brown say, "I never saw the man.. Where did ,he come from?" .'■'

Sub-Inspector Hollis; "What was the condition ■', of, the defendant."—"l should- say drunk?'" ./ ■ /'',/' '' '■ \ ■'■

Mr. MJGrath: "I object)to this cvi derice, sir. ;-.. •-, ■- . , ".". -.V,'v ■ .-■

, The Bench: "I'think it'i relevant, although. it may be the subject of aViother charge..".! '-.',.,- ■: . " /;' '■'.-. :

1 ; To' Mr. M'Grath : "I would riot state the/^pace of defendant's car, but it was wery--fast!")'-; .■-.'.; *'•'■■■'' '■■■■■ .•.•'.';.'.■'';•': .■.-';.'■ : Similar evidence was 1 given by Alexander 31' Guinness, a tramway motorman. ''■' ."• ''■ '■ '-.: '.-'■ ■ '.'- ■ •'.'• '.-.. '■...,.-■ y;.-,l''. ■

William Francis ■ CJark, who .was knocked down by the defendants said after leaving - the railway -platform, he remembered: nothing 'till he found.'him-. self in hospital. ';,.-- ..'-V:-i.'-■■,.'.':" . :- v •'■: , ..-:■..(Proceeding,) .; ", .; V.