TEMUKA HEAVY FINES

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIV, Issue 21063, 15 June 1938, Page 4

TEMUKA HEAVY FINES

Drunk in Charge Cases Heard Magistrate’s Court Fines totalling £5O were imposed on two motorists who appeared before Mr H. Morgan S.M. in the Magistrates Court at Temuka yesterday for being intoxicated in charge of motor vehicles. Leonard Alfred Verdon of Timaru (Mr G. J. Walker), who collided will! a telegraph pole just north of Temuka when returning from a dance, pleaded guilty to being drunk in charge. A charge of negligent driving was withdrawn. “These cases are too numerous and too serious,” commented the Magistrate. “Motorists should know by now the risks they take when they have liquor and get into cars.” Verdon was fined £2O and costs in default six weeks’ imprisonment with hard labour. He was disqualified from obtaining a driving licence until June 1940. William Austin Reilly, Winchester, was similarly charged. Sergeant M. E. Hill explained that a constable had met defendant in the street and had advised him to go home in a taxi in view of his intoxicated condition. He was looking for a van he was driving at the time, and it was arranged that a lad from the garage should take the van to Winchester. When the lad got into the van however, Reilly jumped in after him forcing him out of the vehicle. Reilly then drove off swaying from side to side. Reilly, the sergeant explained, had been before the court on a similar charge in 1934. In view of special circumstances pointed out by counsel (Mr L. M. Inglis) the Magistrate said that he would not impose a term of imprisonment. He fined Reilly £3O, in default three months imprisonment with hard labour and disqualified him from obta' ring a license until June 1941. Speeding Charges Leslie Rodger Lamb of Dunedin, was fined £5, and his license was cancelled for two months because ,he rode a motor-cycle at an excessive speed through Temuka and Geraldine. Traffic Inspector W. R. Ashwell, who pursued defendant from Temuka to Arundel, stated that in places on the open road during the chase he had reached a speed of 85 miles an hour. For exceeding the 30 miles per hour speed limit in Temuka, Hector Ellis was fined £3 and costs. James Douglas Watson, similarly charged, was fined £2/10/- and costs Robert William James Munro, wno failed to give way to traffic on his right, was fined £5 and costs and for having no warrant of fitness, £1 and costs. Civil Cases Judgment by default was given in the following cases: E. L. Kingston v. David R. Turnbull claim 13/-; Timaru Post Co. v. ditto, claim £3; Ronald Ivor Cross v. ditto £53/18/3. FIRE IN SHOP DAMAGE AMOUNTS TO £l5 Fire of unknown origin caused £l5 worth of damage in the boot store of Mr V. Thomas in King Street yesterday morning. It is not known when the fire started, but when Mr Thomas opened his door he was greeted by a burst of flame at the back of the premises. It is assumed that a lighted cigarette end started some of the material smouldering and this burst into flame when the door was opened. Little difficulty was experienced in quelling the outbreak. The walls and roof of the shop were somewhat damaged by heat, but damage to the stock was confined to that in the workshop at the back. R.S.A, MONTHLY MEETING The death of Major-General Sir George Richardson, General Officer Commanding the New Zealand Forces in England was referred to at the monthly meeting of the Temuka Branch of the R.S.A. on Monday night when it was decided to send a letter of sympathy to the widow and family of the deceased. “He took a great interest in the R.5.A.,” said the chairman, Mr A. R. Beck. Sympathy with Mr A. Anderson and Mrs W. Spillane in the death of their mother was also expressed. Mr W. Spillane w T as appointed delegate to the annual conference. It was decided to grant £5 5/- to the Timaru Branch for the hospital fund and to forward a letter thanks to Mr C. Howe, who has been hospital visitor for a number of years, expressing the Branch’s appreciation of his work.