PAYING THE PIPER.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume IV, Issue 960, 9 March 1917, Page 2

PAYING THE PIPER.

AN EXPENSIVE RIDE

The hearing was continued before Mr Wyvern Wilson, S.M., yesterday, after The Sun went to press, of the case in which Henry Richard Webb, a clerk, claimed £IOO from Ix'onard Francis Parson, a clerk employed by the New Zealand Fanners' Co-op. Association, for damages sustained in a collision between a motor car and motor cycle. Mr Cuningham represented the plaintiff and Mr F. Johnston the defendant. It was stated that the motor car driven by the defendant and which collided with a motor cycle ridden by the plaintiT was the property of the defendants employers, but had been used by him on personal business. The plaintiff continued his evidenec. and said that Parson after the accident promised to call upon him, but did not. Elsie Cobiirn, a married woman, said the collision occurred in front of her mother's store at the corner of Edgeware Road and Madras Street. She witnessed the accident. The motor car had been standing some distance down Edgeware Road. When it approached the corner the driver gave no warning with the horn. The motor car was on its wrong side, edged towards its correct side, and then turned towards the right again. The motor cycle was carried some distance by the car. David Stock, a land salesman, gave evidence as to having inspected the scene of the accident and as to having made a rough sketch of the wheel marks on the road. Witness saw Parson on his own initiative and suggested a settlement. Parson came to McKenzie's office, but was then advised bv Mr Taylor, a solicitor, representing Webb's interests, to also see a solicitor. G. B. Brown, a representative of Adams, Ltd., gave evidence that it would cost £2l to repair the motor cycle, whilst about £lO depreciation would result. Alan Woodman, a motor expert, gave it as his opinion tba' the machine could not be repaired to i\s usual state because many of the parts could not be replaced. Mr Johnston stated that he would not attempt to disprove the facts leading up to the accident, but would merely call evidence as to damages sustained by the plaintiff. Charles Bennett, foreman of the New Zealand Fanners' Association motor cycle department, said his firm would be prepared to put the machine into proper order at a cost of £ls 14/-. There were no parts of the machine which could not be replaced. The Magistrate said that he had come to the conclusion that the defendant was travelling at an excessive speed and that there was no contributing negligence on. the part of plaintitr. He would therefore give judgment on the claim for £6B, court costs 15 18/-, and witnesses' expenses £3 1/6. The amount of judgment was made up as follows: Personal damages, £3O; repairs, £2O; depreciation to the machine, £10: damage to clothes, £4; and medical expenses, £4.