DOMINION NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 August 1919, Page 5

DOMINION NEWS.

VALUELESS CHEQUES. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, August 15. Four charges of obtaining money by means of valueless cheques were preferred against John Brown, formerly a sub-lieutenant in the Royal Naval Air Reserve, at the Supreme Court to-day. Accused was convicted, sentence being deferred. EAST COAST RAILWAY. Whakatane, August 15. Mr. Hannah, engineer in charge of the Bay of Plenty portion of the East Coast railway construction, states that arrangements are in hand for a big push all along the line, and developments may be expected by the end of the month. Returned soldiers from Auckland are taking up the work. ■ He further states that the railway workshop near Tauranga, which was recently burned down, is being replaced by a new workshop covering half an acre. The new building will be one of the best in the Dominion. PRISONER IN UNIFORM. Auckland, August 15, When the Supreme Court resumed this afternoon, the first prisoner called appeared in uniform. Mr. Justice Chapman at once said: "I won't allow a man to stand in court in uniform. Take him away and call another case. I have over and over again stated that I will not permit a man to appear in the dock in uniform." The prisoner was then removed, and the court waited until he h«d changed into civilian clothes. MOTORISTS AND THE LAW. Masterton, August 15. In delivering judgment for plaintiff, with costs, in the case of Cook v. Tilley, at the Masterton Court to-day, Mr, S, L. Free, S.M., made some trenchant remarks concerning the law as it applied to motorists. Referring to the evidence of a motor expert on the previous day, his Worship said that he hadn't much faith in such people, as they were usually expert advocates for. the side that employed them. The expert in question had said it was impossible for a car to run more than a certain distance after being declutched. His Worship had proved this statement to be incorrect by actual experience this morning. It had been suggested that parties coming into the main street from a side street should tixercise greater care. That was so in practice, but in law. there was no such distinction, an* each roan had to exercise due care Tile imputation that doctors had a habit of driving fast was, he thought, unfounded. If' they did so the risk was their own. If there was an idea abroad that medical men had a special right beyond that enjoyed by the rest of the public the sooner that idoa was dispelled the better.