DANGEROUS 'SPEED

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 3494, 2 November 1926, Page 2

DANGEROUS 'SPEED

ACROSS STREET INTERSECTION. MOTOR ’BUS DRIVER PINED. At the Magistrate’s Court, before Mr. R. M. Watson, S.M., Harold Farr, driver of a motor-’bus plying between Feilcling and Palmerston North, was lined 40s and costs on a charge, laid under the Motor Vehicles Act, of driving a motor vehicle at a speed dangerous to the public safety. Mr. D. C. Cullinanc represented defendant who pleaded not guilty, and Sergeant Cahill prosecuted. In outlining- the facts of the case, Sergeant Cahill said that defendant drove his motor-’bus along Aorangi road and across the intersection of Fergusson street, at a speed estimated by witnesses as between 25 and 30 miles per hour. This intersection was opposite to the railway station and the breach occurred at a time when the Main Trunk express was due at Foikling from Wellington. Mr. A. R. Sporle, taxi-driver, said that ho had arrived on the taxi-stand opposite the railway station, when defendant came along in his motor’jms. He was coming from Palmerston North to Feilding. It was about 5.2 S and the Auckland express was due. The defendant was travelling between 25 and 30 miles per hour. There were people crossing the road at the time going to the station, and in witness’s opinion the speed of defendant was dangerous. To Mr. Gullinane: Fortunately no traffic came from Fergusson street, otherwise there might have been an accident. Something like a dozen people were walking across the road at the time. Witness was positive that defendant's speed was greater Ilian 20 miles per hour. Defendant had not declutched, and was not a business rival of witness.

Constable McCall gave corroborative evidence. Ho saw the car approach and pass over the intersection at a speed of between 25 and 30 miles per hour. Witness interviewed defendant, later in the evening, when lie said he did not think he was travelling as fast as staled. Had a car or other vehicle appeared from Ferguson street at the time, there would have been an accident.

The defendant gave evidence that he (ravelled over the intersection at 17 miles per hour, and declutched as he approached the intersection. He sounded the. horn and placed his foot on the brake. He slopped the ’bus between Forgusson street and Kimbolton road to allow a passenger to alight. To Sergeant Cahill: He did not see the constable, although he was looking out for him. Ho was not exceeding tiio speed Unlit—it was' not this custom to do so. He had his en-

sine running free. The passenger told him to stop bhfore ; ho reached Wells’ store as she wished to get out to do some shopping. The Magistrate said ho was satisfied that defendant had, under the circumstances, driven in a manner dangerous to the public safety. Defendant would be fined 40s and costs 19s. . ‘ >