SECOND EDITION. "A NARROW ESCAPE"

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16826, 13 December 1928, Page 8

SECOND EDITION. "A NARROW ESCAPE"

MAORIS AND A MOTOR-CAR DRUNK IN CHARGE ALLEGED "You have had a very narrow escape," commented Mr. 12. ('. Levvey, 5.. M., in the Police Court this morning in dismissing charges of drunkenness while in charge of a motor car against two Maoris, VVliare Taylor, 31, and Sydney Kparaima, 28. The police found both men in an advanced state of drunkenness sitting in a car in i'eel street yesterday afternoon, the car belonging to Kparaima, but the evidence of another native showed that he had been driving (he car. and that neither of the accused had been in charge of it. Senior-Sergeant Mac Lean explained that at about 3 p.m. yesterday, word was received at the police station that a c«yf load of Maoris were drunk in J'eel street. Sergeant Alclntyre and •Constable Slrawbridge went out and found Taylor sitting at the wheel of the car, with Kparaima, the owner of the vehicle, at his side, while a third man. who had already been convicted of drunkenness, was siding in the back seat. Kparaima had bought the car about a fortnight ago, and the speaker did net think he could drive, but Taylor held a driver's license, and he was sitting at the wheel. Both were so drunk that the police experienced great difficulty iu arousing them, and at the police station they were unable to make a coherent statement. They had been shearing in the country, and came into town on account of the rain. "They went about the town boozing," concluded the. senior-sergeant, "and were as full as they could be. One of them had a flask half full of whisky in his pocket." Sergeant Mclntyre stated ' that both men were very drunk, and had to he shaken severely before any impression could ho made on thorn. From inquiries made later witness found that, the actual driver of the car was another native, Bongo Ria. Questioned by Hie senior-sergeant, Kparaima staled that he, was the owner of the car. Constable Klrawbridge corroborated Sergeant McLityro's evidence as to the arrest of the accused and their condition. Indicating another, native at the hack .of the court, Kparaima stated that lie had been driving the car. Called by the magistrate, Kongo Ria produced his driver's license, and staled in evidence that he drove the car in from Ormoud in the morning with the shearing crowd, and put the vehicle under the trees in Peel street. Witness went home to his people in town, and returned to Peel street at about 3 p.m.. w'hen he found the car deserted, hut still in the same place under the trees. The gears were locked, and witness had the key in his pocket, so that the accused could not have moved the car. To the accused, the magistrate said : You have had a very narrow escape. You, Kparaima, had better not apply for a license yet awhile, or you will hear about it. and you, Taylor, had better leave liquor alone or you will lose your license. The information was dismissed.