MOTOR V. TRAM

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8558, 22 October 1913, Page 10

MOTOR V. TRAM

SEQUEL TO A COLLISION. At the Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning, before Dr. McArthur, S.M., Lyons and Company proceeded against the Wellington City Corporation to recover tho sum of £23 13s as damages allegedly suffered by the plaintiffs by reason of a tramcar being negligently idriven on July 4th, colliding with .and seriously damaging a motor-car belonging to the plaintiffs. Mr T. M. Wilford, who appeared for 'the plaintiffs, stated .that the car, which was in charge of a chaffeur .named Hans Scott, was proceeding along Lamb ton quay. When opposite the Trocadero Hotel, and on the right side of the road, the engine suddenly .stopped. It was then about 6 o’clock in the evening, and Scott had both his tail and head lamps alight. Scott had to consider what had happened, then ho got out of th© car and went round to the pressure feed pump in order to .start the pressure. Ho had turned th© front wheels round towards the footpath previously, and had only been at tho pump for about ten seconds when a tramcar, coming along,, banged into the rear of the motor and' crashed it against an iron post. ' Samuel William Peed a corporation, employee, said that he was an occupant: of tho motor-car. When th© engine stopped, tho car was on tho tramline. Scott was out of th© car for about ten or twelve seconds, when the car was bumped from the rear, and witness and the other occupant were thrown violently forward. The car was projected ahead for ten or twelve yards, finally striking a verandah post. The. tail and head lights were all alight. Hans Scott, chauffeur, in tho employ of Lyons and Co., said that the car stopped for the want of benzine in th© engine. Witness jumped out to pump up the benzine. He saw a tram approaching from the rear about 40 yards distant, and soon after the tram struck tho motor and threw it and him also against a verandah post. Bis suit of clothes was spoiled, and his right arm was injured so that it was out of action for about two weeks. Mr O’Shea (city solicitor) stated that the night was one of drizzling rain. The tram rails were wet, and the motorman found it impossible to pull up. . Motorman McDonald, who was dnving the tram in question, said that the ear was about thirty yards away when he saw the motor stop. He immediately applied tho emergency brake. Tha rail was slippery and greasy throngh tho drizzling rain, making ii very difficult to pull up. There was very jlittlo way on tho car, ana it aid not .hit the motor very hard. After hearing other evidence, His Worship reserved his decision.