MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 25 January 1929, Page 9

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

MANAIA SITTING

TO-DAY’S OASES

At the opening sitting of the year of the Magistrate’s Court at Manaia today beloro Mr Ri. W. Tate, iS.M., judgment by default was given for plaintiff in the following undefended civil cases: The Commissioner of Taxes v. E. Keeley, £1 10s 7d; L. G. Nielson v. Charles Kahu, £8 ss; L. A. Walters v. Charles Kahu, £4 6s. In judgment summons proceedings, Te Awe Pepe, a native resident of Otakeho, who did not appear, was ordered to pay forthwith to Messrs Wright and Lawrence the sum of £l2 16s 2d with costs £1 Is, in default 13 days’ imprisonment in New Plymouth gaol. THE RIGHT-HAND RULE.

For a breach of Regulation 13 under the Motor Vehicles Act. 1924, in failing to 1 give way to another motor vetiicle approaching from the right at tlie intersection of Manaia Street and Manaia Road on November 11, thereby causing a collision, Molly Langford, of Kapuni, was fined 20s and costs 10s. • In extenuation. Mr E. M. Beechey (Hawera), said defendant was a good driver and the collision was due more to mischance and misunderstanding than anything else. The magistrate, while accepting the explanation, stressed the point that it was only in connection with such cases, not attended by serious accident, that he felt impelled to impose heavy penalties. The rule of the road must be observed and he intended to inflict salutory fines for first offences, with an upward tendency for repetitions. In eases where the offenders were cast in heavy medical expenses even through their own negligence and carelessness, he experienced a degree of compunction in increasing the liability. The maj ority of breaches of the regulations which came before him were attended with serious, conseqeunces and the court heard very little of minor casualties unless the police were called in or were on the spot-. A MENACE TO THE PUBLIC.

F. E. Bowers, a factory employee, of Kaupokonui, was fined 40s with 12s costs for riding a motor cycle at Manaia, on December 18, in a manner dangerous to the public. There was no appearance of defendant, who sent a written statement, through Constable Scannell, admitting the offence.