BULLS COURT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 18917, 21 January 1924, Page 9

BULLS COURT

A sitting of the Bull’s Court was held on Saturday, Mr. R. M. Watson, S.M., presiding. The Manawatu County Council proceeded against F. otf Marton, for driving a motor car through Sanson, on November 28 last, in a manner dangerous to the public. Traffic-inspector Berry appeared for the county and led evidence to show that defendant’s car was driven at a speed of 36 miles per hour over a distance of eight chains. At the conclusion of informant’s case Mr. R. Mackay, who appeared for defendant, asked the Magistrate to dismiss the information on the ground that the county had not proved that defendant was driving the car on the date in question; that the driver was the person referred to in the by-laws; and that the Court could not fine a car. His Worship agreed with Mr. Mackay’s assertion, but pointed out that in all motor cases it was often difficult to prove who was driving, and on that account he was prepared to give local bodies Las much assistance as possible. Here he considered a prima facie case had been made and that the onus was now on defendant to prove , that he was not the driver. Counsel further contended that the road at Sanson was an extremely -wide one, being two chains in width and that on the day in question,_a race day, the traffic was all going in one direction and that having regard to all the circumstances the car was not proceeding at a rate dangerous to the public. His Worship gave judgment for the County, stating that any speed over 35 miles per hour was dangerous, but considered that under the circumstances a fine of 10s would meet the case. Mr. R. Mackay put in a like plea for M. Archibald, taxi proprietor, of Marton, who was similarly charged. Defendant was fined 10s, costs 7s. Leonard Whitelaw, William Arthur Best and Guy Temple Perkins, all motorists, were also fined 20s, costs 7s each for driving through Sanson in a dangerous manner. The Bulls Town Board, for whom Mr. R. Mackay appeared, proceedeo against a number of motorists for driving through Bulls at a speed exceeding 15 miles per hour. Frederick Cutts, town clerk, and A. L Haynes, C. S Howard, A. Bromley, and Nelson Scott gave evidence in support of the prosecution. All defendants were convicted and fined as under:— Bert Hodson, Stephen Foreman, William Scott jur., and Frank Tutty, all of Wanganui, were each fined £2 and costs. Alf. Barlow of Stratford and William Hume of Martinborough, were similarly each fined £2 and costs. I In the defended case of J. R. Thacker (Mr. Mackay) of Marton Junction v. T Carson, farmer, Greatford, plaintiff claimed a week’s wages. 22s 6d. The evidence alleged that there was ill-feeling between the parties, and defendant contended that plaintiff was abusive and so refused to pay him. The Magistrate after hearing the evidence give judgment for the plaintiff for £l, court costs Ils, solicitor’s fee 15s 6d.