MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 16 October 1924, Page 11

MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

SITTING AT HAWERA. NEGLIGENT DRIVING. LOCAL DOCTOR FINED. •At the Hawera Magistrate’s Court tins morning, before Alessrs E. Dixon and G. O. Ekdahl, J’s.P., William F i edeiick R.mst was fined for negligently driving a motor-car. Sergt. Henry, for the police, said that on June 19 defendant drove his car down Beach Road from his private hospital in the direction of Collins Street-South Road intersection, and at this intersection he collided with a horse and gig, with the result that- the vehicle and the passengers were carried for a distance of 12 to' 14 yards. Ihe defendant went to the passengers' assistance, and found that -only sliu-ht injuries had been inflicted, hut- after doing what he could he offered to pay lor the damage done. Sergeant Henrv said that witnesses estimated defendant’s speed at from 30 to 35 miles' per hour, but the doctor stated less. However, an accident had occurred, and the doctor had been the cause of it. It was raining at the time, , and probably the water on the windscreen had restricted defendant’s vision. Con-, tinning. Sergeant Henry said that deieudant drove a high-powered cur, hilt although he was considered a fast driver he was a capable one. Air F. C. Spratt-, for defendant, pleaded guilty. He stated that defend«uit hud ou-e witness, who had remarkcd before tlie- accident occurred that tlie doctor was travelling slower than usual. Tlidre was no doubt that defendant was a careful and capable driver, few. although lie covered 25,000 miles hv car each year he had not previously had an accident. Air Spratt said he was pleading guilty for' the leason that as far as the case was concerned defendant’s failure to see the gig \vas .sufficient evidence of negligence. Iho doctor had hot. wished to see the owners of the gig come out losers, and he had generously paid tlie expenses, which bad amounted to about £2O. Mr Dixon agreed that the travelling nublie must be protected, and a fine of £2.2.s was inflicted, the heavy expense which defendant had already been put to having been taken into account. CYCLISTS WITHOUT LIGHTS. Two more cyclists, who were guilty of riding at night without lights, were dealt with. it was stated by the police that cue of the offenders, a young man named Roy Tippett, had knocked down and injured a lady who had been walking along the Normanby-Okaiawa Road. He, however, had done the honourable thing by stepping; and going back to render assistance, and he had later visited the lady’s home in order to ascertain how she was getting on. Defendant. had been fined iii April, 1923. for riding a motor-cvcl.e without a light. Air Dixon pointed out that in the country there were no footpaths, and pedestrians had to be protected. A fine of los and 7s court cost:-, was imposed. The other cyclist, a man named John who was caught riding in' Stafford Street, Normanby, without a light, was fined 10s and 7s court costs.