CLAIM FOR £559 HEARD BY COURT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18465, 17 May 1928, Page 4

CLAIM FOR £559 HEARD BY COURT.

ACCIDENT OCCURRED IN STANMORE ROAD. >Mr Justice Adams and a jury of twelve were occupied again to-day hearing a claim by Daniel Petrie Walker, railway employee, Invercargill, against the Christchurch Tramway Board and the Inter-City Motor Service Company for £559. The case arose out of a collision between a bus belonging to the company and a tramcar at the corner of Hereford Street and Stanmore Road on January 2 last. Walker was a passenger in the bus, and was injured by the collision.

Mr E. W. White appeared for Walker, Mr M. J. Gresson, with him Mr Hutchison, for the board, and Mr Thomas, with him Mr Abernethv, for the companv. Evidence For Board. Further evidence was called by Mr Gresson in support of the board’s defence. James Bassett, commercial traveller, a passenger in the tram-car, said that the motorman sounded his gong eight or nine times, loudly. The tramcar’s speed approaching the corner was not more than twelve miles an hour. The bus seemed to speed up in order to cross the rails and pass in front of the tram-car. Just before the impact, the tram-car’s speed was seven or eight miles an hour. It continued for twelve or fifteen feet after the impact. To Mr White: The tram-car’s brakes were applied. Arthur H, Thompson, the board’s workshops superintendent, said that when the tram-car was examined, it was found that the air-brake had been knocked back by the collision, and the trailer’s air connection had been broken off. Maurice M. Wright, the board's engineer, said that the second emergency brake would function at a speed of four or five miles an hour. The Company’s Case. Mr Thomas said that the bus driver slowed down at the corner, sounded his horn, and was on his proper side. He was an extraordinarily careful driver. Joseph Michael Fogarty, driver of the bus, said that he changed to third gear near the corner, and came down to five or six miles an hour. He could see about a chain and a half along the road on which the tram-car approached. He saw the tram-car on a second glance, but did not think there was any danger whatever. The motorman was not looking ahead, but was looking to his left. When witness saw that the tram-car was coming on, he naturally thought that it would put on its brakes. Mr Thomas: Do you think it did?— • No. (Proceeding.)