FIRE-ENGINE DAMAGED

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 5, 6 July 1928, Page 15

FIRE-ENGINE DAMAGED

COLLISION WITH TAXI The sensational collision between^ a Black and White taxi cab and a fire engine in Jervois quay on 27th January last was recalled,.by a claim for £76 2s 6d made in the Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon by the Wellington Fire Board against Black and White Cabs, Ltd. Mr. E. Page, S.M., was on the Bench, Mr. C, A. L. Treadwell acted for the Fire Board, and Mr. W. P. Shorland for the defendant company. Several firemen were injured m the accident, and the traffic inspector on duty near the entrance to-the Queen's Wharf had a narrow escape-from serious injury. The board's claim alleged negligence on the part of the driver of the taxi in failing to give a signal .to the, inspector and in proceeding against "the latter's signal to stop. For the defence, it was contended that the taxi-driver had been given the signal to proceed by the inspector, and that the accident was caused by the negligence of the driver of the engine. ■After hearing a number of witnesses, Mr. Page said that, judging from the- taxidriver's story, there seemed to have been a failure by him to observe proper care. He had said that after being given what appeared to be a signal to turn, he did so without giving any warning to the traffic behind him. "I think there is a double obligation on anyone "making a turn o£ tills sort," continued Mr. Page. He &hould first give an indication to the inspector that he desired to turn, and then^ having been given permission, he shoulif indicate to whatever traffic was behind him what he was going to do. IC the taxi-driver had given an adequate signal, there would probably have been no accident.' Further, it was clear that the driver never got the signal to proceed, as the witnesses were agreed that all traffic to and from the vharves was suspended during the passage of the fire engine. The driver of the taxi was negligent, therefore, in not taking care to see that ho got the , signal. That negligence was, in Mr. j Page's opinion, the imhiediate cause of the ] accident. i Judgment was ontcred'i for the plaintiff board for £71 2s (id. " '