LENGTHY DISPUTE

Southland Times, Issue 20396, 27 January 1928, Page 4

LENGTHY DISPUTE

SEQUEL TO COLLISION. A SENSIBLE WITNESS. Some time was taken up at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning with a civil action arising out of a collision between a motor car and a motor cycle. Robert Sinclair Waterson (Mr T. Meredith) proceeded against Lewis Gordon Bradley (Mr J. Tait) on a claim for £42 10/- damages, for repairs to his motor cycle, loss of wages and general damages. The plaintiff stated that on September 4 he was proceeding along Tay street in a westerly direction, approaching the corner of Ythan street at about fifteen miles per hour at the most. He had first changed into high gear so could not have been riding at an excessive speed. As he came to the corner he saw defendant coming north along Ythan street. Defendant apparently did not see him and kept straight on. Plaintiff saw that a collision was inevitable so he swerved to the right in a half-circle. He was knocked over by the left wheel of the car and received injuries to his leg which was pinned beneath the cycle. . Evidence was given by William Wright who said he was about forty yards away when the accident occurred. Witness stated that he saw the bicycle lying under the left wheel of the car and he stepped the various distances at the scene of the mishap. Anticipating a dispute he afterwards drew up a plan. In his opinion defendant must have been on his wrong side of the road when the collision took place. The defendant stated that he was approaching Tay street on his correct side and that he did not see plaintiff for the “blind spot” on his car, which was a closed model. After hearing the argument of counsel, the Magistrate (Mr G. Cruickshank) said that he was sure that plaintiff was in the right. Traffic coming out of a side street must always give way to the traffic on the main road. The fact that the defendant’s little boy was standing beside him and that he reached across and sounded the horn may have momentarily taken his attention from the driving. Judgment was entered for plaintiff for £35 16/6 with costs £7. His Worship went on to say that Wright was the best witness who had been in the box for a long time, and he was to be commended in showing such good sense and foresight when he drew up. a map of the accident.