BOROUGH BY-LAW CASE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 23, 21 July 1911, Page 6

BOROUGH BY-LAW CASE

A COUNCILLOR PROSECUTED. At the S.M. Court yesterday morning Inspector Tippins proceeded against George Wilfrid Hartnell, a builder, and a member of tOxe Borough Council, on a. charge of having caused a load of timber to be placed in Devon street without (having placed lights thereon at night a* his own 'expense from Saturday, July 8, to Tuesday, July 11. Mr. F. E. Wilson appeared for the defendant, who pleaded not guilty. Inspector Tippins gave evidence that on Monday evening, 10th met., he visited Dawson street and: found the load of timber tJiere without lights on it. He telephoned to the town clerk, who instructed luim to put lights on the timber. t He did this. Next morning he found that the timber had been moved to the section 1 , and the tamps placed on one aide. He was informed by one of the builders that Hartnell was the owner of Khe timber. Mr. Wilson ?'iid the inspector's evidence was quite correct. The defence was that the defendant was the wrong man to proceed against. Hartnell had a contract to build a hoine foT Mr. H. Calvert, and ordered timber from the flfcush and Door Company. The timber came, but the driver of the waggon placed it on the road instead- of on the section, although there was no difficulty about putting it on to the site. The defendant . received no notice of the delivery of the timber, and had absolutely no knowledge that it was- lying in the streeit. When informed of it, be went down at night and moved it on to the section. Defendant's evidence was to thiis effect, saying that there was some 1405 ft. of timber, and that foe moved it (hini«elf. He had never had' timber delivered in thin way before. "The company had verbally undertook to notify him when the timber was delivered'.

His Worship held that there was no evidence to show that the defendant hlwi caused 1 the timber to be placed on the road, or even that he knew it was there. The information would be dismissed.