CYCLIST KILLED

Taranaki Daily News, 11 April 1935, Page 8

CYCLIST KILLED

FINDING OF CORONER’S COURT.

FATAL COLLISION WITH CAR. An inquest into the death of Leonard Snell, a'farm labourer living near Kaponga, who was ‘killed shortly after midnight on March 10 when the motorcycle he was riding collided with a car driven by Jack Bryant Linton, Hawera, was held before Mr. R. S. Sage, coroner, at Hawera yesterday. No blame was attachable to Linton, said the coroner in his finding, death being caused by a fracture of the skull. Dr. H. D. Cameron said Snell suffered severe head injuries. Death in his opinion was due to haemorrhage and shock following a compound fracture of the forehead and laceration of the brain. Death would have been Instant. He also attended John Beard, the pillion rider, who was ordered to hospital. Jack Bryant Linton, motor mechanic employed by R. H. Leece and Co., Hawera, said that on March 9 he visited a Mr. Cameron at Tempsky Road. He left a few minutes before midnight. He drove along Ahaipaipa Road. The road was straight and lights of approaching vehicles could be easily seen. Some distance before reaching Division Road, Linton said he could see the lights, of two motor-cycles, one 100 yards behind the other and approximately 300 yards away. Both had good lights. He was travelling at about 30 miles an hour, slackening speed before approaching the intersection. Linton said he was on the correct side of the road, and when the cycle, which had been travelling on its correct side, was about six feet away, it swerved to the right. He had tried to swerve to the left to avoid the cycle, but he was. unsuccessful, the cycle striking the righthand front wheel and mudguard of the car. He lost control of the car completely. The impact was severe, a good deal of damage being done to the car. The car travelled 46 feet after the impact, completely out of control, finishing on the incorrect side. He was driving at about 25 miles an hour at the time of the collision. The cycle was a few feet to the left of the car and Snell was lying on the broken right-hand front wheel of the car six feet behind the right-hand rear wheel. He examined Snell, whom he considered dead, and Beard, who was unconscious. The men on the second motor-cycle arrived seconds after the accident, one staying with him, and the other going to Okaiawa for the police and a doctor, said Linton. The cycle ridden by Snell was, in his opinion, travelling at about 25 miles an hour at the time of the accident. The cycle lights had not affected him. The car brakes were good and the lights, though good, were not brilliant. He had seen a peach jammed between the spring and the brake cable and a smaller piece, apparently a bite, in the forks. He could not say whether Snell had had both hands on the handlebars or not. Jack Charles Beard, farm labourer, said he and Snell had attended the pictures at Hawera. Near Division Road he saw reflections of car lights 300 yards away and on closer approach, he thought both vehicles were travelling at between 20 and 25 miles an hour. The car was well over on its correct side, as was the cycle. As the car approached, Snell said to him, “What’s this coming,” and a few seconds later the collision occurred. In his opinion the reason for the collision was that Snell was dazzled by the lights and just before impact he swerved towards the car. He was carrying two big parcels under one arm, said Beard, who told the court he was not clinging to Snell. He did not think his freedom of the arms would have made any unevenness in the cycle s movements while going round a slight bend. Both had peaches with them at the time of the accident, but they were not eating. Snell had both hands on the bars. Snell had been riding motor-cycles since 1926, and Beard had been riding on the pillion seat with him for. the last seven years. He did not think his weight would be enough to make Snell swerve into the car. Neither Snell nor himself had had liquor. In answer to Mr. North, Beard said the peaches were in his and Snell’s pockets and the parcels were gramophone records. No peaches had been eaten on the road, and the peaches found must have been Snell’s. Because of the curve in the road it was impossible to become accustomed to the car lights. He did. not blame the motor driver in any way' for the accident. To a question by the coroner Beard said he considered Linton’s car lights exceptionally brilliant. Snell was more careful than the average rider of motorcycles. Douglas Walker, farm labourer, Kapuni, the rider of the motor-cycle following Snell’s, said his machine was two .chains behind Snell’s cycle going up Scott Road, He did not think Linton’s car lights were brilliant when they came into view. Henry James Burrows, farmer, Kaponga, who employed Snell, gave evidence of identification. HURLEYVILLE CRICKET. MEETING OF CLUB HELD.

A meeting of the Hurleyville Cricket Club was held on Monday night in the hall. Those present were Messrs. Rodley (chairman), Stone (secretary), Adlam, Jones and L. Scown. Discussion arose upon those eligible to vote at the annual meeting, Mr. Rodley suggesting that only financial members vote. Mr. Stone said the practice of canvassing uninterested members of the district for votes was greatly to be deplored. Mr. Adlam said he was not sure if his paddock would be available next season. Mr. L. Scown said the matter of the pitch and where it would be would be a matter for the new committee.

Discussing the matter of forming two teams, one at Gentle Annie and one at Hurleyville, Mr. Roy Jones said he was not in favour of two teams. Mr. Stone said that even with 25 financial members it was at times difficult to gather a team. Discussion on the holding of a dance