WANDERING MILK-FLOAT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19412, 21 August 1926, Page 14

WANDERING MILK-FLOAT.

PROSECUTION OF DRIVER. COURT DISMISSES CHARGE. A charge of being drunk while in charge of a horse and vehicle in Symonds Street was denied in the Police Court yesterday by Samuel Victor Wright (Mr. J. F. W. Dickson). A constable said that on the evening of Juiy 17, shortly before six o'clock, he found a milk-float outside the Queen's Hotel in Symonds Street. Ho could see nothing of the driver and after some time he took the vehicle to a stable. Another constable said accused called at the Police Station about 8.30 and stated he was a milkman at Takapuna. He lad come over to. the city in the afternoon and left his milk-float in Vulcan Lane, outside the Queen's Ferry Hotel, while he had a drink. After having a few drinks he remembered nothing until he " came to" at his parents' home in Dominion Road at about 7 o'clock. He then remembered the milk-float and went to look for it, but it had disappeared. When accused called he was sober but showed signs of having slept out. His clothing was dirty and he had a bottle with him. He said he had slept in his parents' yard as he was ashamed tc go inside. ; ■ : William Edward Grant, licensee of the Queen's Ferry Hotel, said he saw a milkfloat blocking Vulcan Lane in the afternoon. He saw accused talking to two men and told them a policeman was inquiring about the float. One of the men talking to accused said "I will take charge, of it," and got into the cart and drove it away. Accused was perfectly sober. -4.-., Accused said he went to the Queen's Ferry Hotel at about five o'clock. He hoard the licensee say the cart should be taken away from the lane. When, he want „ outside the float had disappeared. He did not go near the Queen's Hotel that day. , The magistrate, Mr. Poynton, said that clearly the float had been taken away bj someone. The only question then was whether accused was drunk while he was still in charge of the vehicle. The condition into which he drifted afterwards did not affect the matter. The case would be dismissed.