MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Grey River Argus, 23 June 1936, Page 8

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

SITTING AT GREYMOUTH. The following cases were dealt with by Air. 11. Morgan, S.M., at yesterday’s sitting of tiro Magistrate’s Court at Greymouth. One first offender found on licensed premises was fined £1 with 11/- costs. Robert Colquhoun McDonald pleaded guilty to a charge of supplying a firearm of less calibre than a .303 to a person under the age of 16 years. Defendant stated that he bought the airgun for the boy and thought that it was just like a toy.

The Magistrate said that such weapons had proved very dangerous. Children had been injured by the careless use, and it was very tempting to children to cause damage, to property. Defendant was ordered to pay costs 12/6. George Roberts similarly charged pleaded guilty ami was ordered to pay costs 10/-.

I'lio Magistrate said that there had been a ease in the Children’s Court where a hov had pointed one of these air guns at another hoy when if was loaded, hut fortunatelv it'was not at his face, when it went off. Cbnrlo-- T..-O n'T'o....-.!! J, „.. ,■>;<. playing the prescribed headlights on a motor vehicle was fined 10/- with 10/eo«ts.

Thomas Patrick O’Donnell was fined 10/- with 10/- costs, for driving an unregistered mo’or car. awl 5/with 10/- costs for driving without a license. Robert Yellowlees was fined IQZwith 10/- costs for cutting the corner from Tainui Street into Mackay Street. John Brown was fined 10/-. with costs 10/- for a breach of his prohibition order. Allan Wilson, of South Reach. wn< charged that on January 31. in High Street, lie fil’d drive n. motor ear at a speed and in a manner which having regard to all the circumstances, might have been dangerous to the nnblie. Mr. T. F. Brosnan for defendant, pleaded guiltv.

Senior-Sergeant E. Qnavle. said that n Mr. McLeod was proceeding along Franklvn Street West and defendant was coming info Grevmoutli. McLeod was on his correct side of the road when the ear driven bv Wilson struck the rear of McLeod’s ear and overturned both. MeLenfi sustained injuries to his arm. The cause of the acridon* was too much speed bv iV'lson. AfeT.eofi was travelling slowlv ami had the right-of-wav and was almost across the int erser-t ion when struck. The fact of the small car overturnin'’ the heavv ear showed Hint it was trnvolbng <il an excessive sneed. Mr. Brosnan did no* a<’reo that defendant was tre veil'no- al an excessive speed or flint McLeod had the right-of-wav. lie n.'lmilled Wilson was drivino- fast a* a sneer! across the intersection. which was a breach of the motor Terrain I ions. The corner was obscured bv a hodo-e and Wil=on did no< sop f]ip e!t r. When ho did son it he could have annl'od the brakes, hut n« ho was on the main road ho th on Hit that lie would be allowed to go fliroueli. ■"■hilsf defendant fell a«s”rod flint McLeod’s car would join the traffic in TTirri) Ptreof. The Mngistrnto said that there wore two breache-s involved, excessive speed rind failing to give wav. If: seemed clear that defend,ant was not keening a pronor look out and of not having his ear under proper control at the intersection. Tt was .a clear case of driving in a dangerous manner. From his own observations in High Street.. stated flu l . Magstrato. ears drove too fast over the. intersections, narticularly at night time, and it was exfremelv dangerous. A fine of £3 with 10/- posts was inflicted.

Frederick Tibbles (Air. T. F. Bresnan). pleaded guiltv to a chnro-e that on the main hi.ghwav between Kamaka anfi Ngahere. he did drive his motor vehicle in a manner which might have been daimerous to the nublie. Son : or-Sergeant Qnavle stated a number of sheen were beino- driven alonothe road mid defendant’s ear. estimated to be travelling at 30 miles :in hour, drove into the sheep and scattered them about, killing three nod bruising others. Tibbles was told bv the hoy driving them that the owner would he coming along in a short time, but Tibbles drove on. Tt was not a sharn corner, but simnlv a. curve in the mad where defendant overtook the sheen.

Air. Brosnan said that there was no suggestion that the public were endangered. Tt was only the sheep. Thirty miles per hour was not an excessive sneed on a country road. Defendant had had .judgment for £7-14/- entered against him for the damaged alleged to have been caused. He therefore suggested that defendant had been suffietonflv penalised.

The Alavisfrafe said that the injury to the sheep was purely a private matter. He had fo see that speeding round corners was stopnod and fherobv nrotect the public. If was a breach of the first regulation and motorists would have to learn that they should have their cars under nroner control at corners. A fine of £2 with 10/- costs would he inflicted.