S.M. COURT

Waipa Post, Volume 42, Issue 3270, 10 March 1931, Page 4

S.M. COURT

TRAFFIC OFFENDERS FINED.

SERVICE CAR-DRIVER IN TROUBLE. Traffic prosecutions again claimed chief attention at the sitting of Te Awamutu Magistrate's Court yesterday. Mr W. Wilson, S.M., was the presiding magistrate. CIVIL CASES. Judgment by default was entered in favour of 'claimants in the following debt claims:— Rose and Wilson v. P. H. Gosse, £2O; costs, £2 17s. W. Stewart v. John Tunoho, £2 9s 4d; costs, £1 5s 6d. W. M. Miller v. Ako Kaui, £2 Is 6d; costs, £1 15s 6d. Waipa Post Co., Ltd., v. E. A. Parr, £24; costs, £4 4s 6d. Waipa County Council v. T. A. Petrie, £7 15s 9d; costs, £1 12s 6d. Holmes Bros. v. Matekino, £8 6s 3d; costs, £1 14s 6d. S. J. Nobes v. G. Coverdale, £ll lis 6d; costs, £2 14s. Advance Cars, Ltd., v. G. Coverdale, £l7 17s; costs, £2 14s. Harden, Ltd., v. C. J. Biehler, £l4 lis sd; costs, £2 14s. J. Robertson v. N. Street, £67 15 s sd; costs, £4 ss. J. Jones, Ltd., claimed on judgment from F. W. Stokes £6 ss.—There was no appearance of the defendant, who was ordered to pay the amount forthwith, plus costs; in default, 7 days') imprisonment. E. L. Thomas was, by consent, adjudged the father of an illegitimate child born in Christchurch. UNLICENSED DRIVER. Irene L. Adams was charged with having driven a motor vehicle on 19th February without having obtained the necessary driver's license. Constable Rimmer gave evidence as to intercepting the accused, who had taken out the license on the day following. A fine of 10s and costs was imposed.

QUESTION OF EVIDENCE. A series of charges was preferred against E. L. Williams, who was drivig from Kihikihi to Otorohanga on 11th February. He was made subject to a charge of negligent driving, of failing to keep to his proper side of the road, and to colliding with another vehicle. Defendant, through his solicitor, pleaded guilty, but denied the circumstances outlined by the police. Constable Forsyth said accused was proceeding southward at 2.30 p.m. on the day in question. When south of Kihikihi he was noticed driving in a reckless manner, and eventually he crashed into another car which was on its proper side of the road. He was followed, and was overtaken only after a chase of four miles. He then refused to give his name. There was a suggestion that he was under the influence of "liquor. Accused dened the importation that he was under the influence of liquor. The magistrate said that in that event the case must stand adjourned for evidence. It was asked that the case be allowed to proceed, but the magistrate held that it was an essential consideration whether the accused was or was not affected by liquor at the time. The case was accordingly set on one side until witnesses couid be called. TOO MANY RABBITS.

The Agricultural Department proceeded against J. E. Miles on a charge of failing to comply with demands for the destruction of rabbits on his property. Inspector Melrose appeared for the Department. The summons had been sent to Wellington, but affidavit oi service had not been returned. As a matter of fact it was burned in the mail van which was destroyed by fire on the Main Trunk line, but the inspector handed in a telegram advising that service had been effected. This the Court would not accept. "It would never do to depart from the rule of a declaration of service," said the magistrate when adjourning the hearing for a month. A MYTHICAL LICENSE. Te Awamutu borough traffic inspector proceeded against George Retima for not having a driver's license, In evidence Inspector Metcalfe said he stopped defendant in Sloane Street. When asked for his license defendant said he did not have it with him, but would bring it next day. He gave his name, but when he did not turn up on the day following, as promised, inquiry was made. It was then found that he had no license, and that he had given a false name. Defendant was fined 20s, with costs 10s, for not having a license. A further fine of 10s, with costs 10s, was imposed for giving a false name. SERVICE CAR DRTVER FINED. The.Waipa County Council's traffic inspector proceeded against C. Grant, driver of the Kawhia service car, for SD66(lin£r« Inspector Nicholson said he had set a trap and found that the speed on *the day in question was 46 miles per hour. Complaint had been made that this driver constituted himself a danger, particularly to children going to the schools. Accused said it was an open road, and there was no sign of any other traffic at the time. The magistrate said he would like to stand this driver down for three months. Unfortunately, the nature of the charge would not allow him to do so, but he would do it in another way. A fine of £lO and costs" was imposed. "We are not going to have service car drivers tearing along narrow roads in this way," added the magistrate.

OVERLOADING AND SPEEDING. The Waipa County Council's inspector brought two charges against C. Loughnan, who was alleged to have overloaded his cream lorry, and also to have exceeded the speed limit. Inspector Nicholson said that on the day in question this vehicle, weighing 4 tons 4 cwt, was driven to Hairini factory. Three days later it had the same quantity and weight. The license was for 3 J tons. It had been an unlicensed vehicle previously. Cross-examined: Accused was not stopped while travelling along the road- Information as to the number

of cans of milk, carried that day was ascertained by inquiry, and the number was confirmed by defendant on the following day. The case was adjourned at this stage for evidence to be called as to the actual weight of the load. On the charge of speeding Inspector Nicholson said that on 9th January the truck proceeded a'.ong the road to the Hairini factory at a speed of 28 miles per hour. Cross-examined, witness said a distance was pegged by a qualified engineer. Between the points a check was kept by stop-watch, and it was thus readily possible to define the speed of vehicles passing over the area when inspectors set the trap. A fine of SI, with costs 12s, was imposed for speeding. \ QUESTION OF WEIGHTS. Waipa county inspector proceeded. against W. R. Fraser for carrying an excessive load in his motor lorry. Inspector Nicholson said that on 23rd December he followed Fraser's truck along the main highway. The vehicle had cream cans and passengers. The weight of vehicle and load when put on the weigh-bridge was in excess of the regulation for the road in question. Cross-examined: The truck was too long for the weigh-bridge so the system of weighing was that approved by the inspectors of weights and measures. R. G. Andrew described the method of weighing, and put in the official weigh-bridge ticket. Counsel said defendant had given a few people a lift into town that day. His overloading appeared to be the result of obliging these people. The magistrate said it was clear defendant was carrying more than 4i tons. The method of weighing was the standard one, and could be accepted. Accused had been twice - previously convicted. The regulation was devised to protect the roads., and the on'y way to stop overloadiiig> was t 6 make it unprofitable. A fine of £s y with costs 10s, was imposed. LAND AGENCIES. Land agents' licenses were issued to> Mizen and Co., Ltd.. F. J. and H. Andrew and Sons.

AUCTIONEER'S LICENSE. An auctioneer's license was granted to Mizen. and Co., Ltd.