“A SERIOUS CASE”

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVII, Issue 21504, 17 November 1939, Page 4

“A SERIOUS CASE”

Collision On Hill Motorist Drove On Incorrect Side “The circumstances disclose a very serious case," remarked the Magistrate. Mr H. Morgan, in convicting and imposing a fine of £5. with costs 19/- and witnesses’ expenses 12/-, on Charles William Vincent who did not appear to answer a chaise of having negligently driven a motor-car on the Timaru-Beaconsfield road on September 25. Defendant was also prohibited from obtaining a motor driver’s licence for three months. On a charge of not having a driver's licence defendant was fined £1 and costs 10/-. Sergeant R. Henry, who prosecuted, said that defendant had driven a motor car up the Salisbury gully on the Timaru-Beaconsfield road on his incorrect side and had collided head-on with a two and a half ton truck driven by William Davison, a cartage contractor. The car had been completely wrecked, and the truck had been damaged to the extent of £6O. Defendant had a passenger named Ayres, and they had both received slight injuries, but the driver of the truck escaped injury, William Davison, cartage contractor, said that the accident had occurred on the brow of the hill. Witness had seen the car approaching as he turned a bend when his speed was between 20 and 25 miles an hour. The car which was over on the wrong side of the road had collided head-on with the truck. Witness had practically stopped but he had had no hope of avoiding a collision. Albert Brasell. a driver employed by the previous witness, gave corroborative evidence. Thomas McLeod Ayres, hairdresser, said that he had been a passenger in the car driven by Vincent. Vincent had picked him up at the Saltwater Creek Hotel where they had had two beers. Vincent had driven up the hill on his incorrect side for some distance. Witness had been injured and had spent some time in bed as a result. Constable W. V. Ward, who produced a sketch of the localitj’. said that Vincent had never possessed a driver’s licence. The tracks on the road showed that he had been on his incorrect side for approximately two chains. The skid marks showing when Davison applied his brakes indicated that the j truck had been pulled up within 23 feet. Failure to Close Shop The Inspector of Factories (Mr R. J. Weir) proceeded against Ernest Thomas Crawford, a grocer of North Street, who did not appear to answer a charge that he had failed to close his shop at 1 p.m. on Saturday. September 16 as required under the provisions of the Ships and Offices Act. 1921 and 1922. Defendant was also charged under the Shops and Offices Amendment Act, 1936, that he had employed a worker, William Fitzgerald, after the hour of noon on the statutory closing day. Inspector Weir gave evidence that he had met Fitzgerald delivering groceries in North Street at 2.30 p in. on the Saturday, when he had anticipated that he would complete his delivery bj 7 3 o’clock. Mr Weir said that Section 28 of the Act laid down that if deliveries were being carried out after the closing time the shop was held to be open. The Magistrate entered a conviction and imposed a fine of £2 in each case. The costs were fixed at 10/- on the first charge and 13/- on the secohd. Parking on Omnibus Stand The Borough Traffic Inspector (Mr C. H. Newcome) proceeded against Harold Steven Whitley on a charge of having parked his car on a Municipal omnibus stand in Stafford Street. Evidence was given that owing to the action of defendant three buses had been obliged to stop in the traffic lane in order to pick up passengers. Defendant was convicted and a fine of 15/- was imposed, with costs 10/-.