TAIHAPE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 153, 30 June 1934, Page 5

TAIHAPE

MOTOR COLLISION CASE Ou February 28 of this year a collision occurred on a sharp bend on the Alangaweka Road, between a car driven by Rev. E. T. King, Presbyterian minister at Taihape, and a car driven by Air. L. A. Chamberlain, a farmer residing at Fordell.

Rev. King was travelling to Tai hape and Air. Chamberlain was going in the opposite direction when the accident occurred.

The sequel was heard in the Alagiatrate’s Court on Thursday, when Rev. King claimed £22 10s damages from Chamberlain, who counter-claimed for £l3 13s. Each alleged that the other was negligent. After hearing evidence, the magistrate, Air. J. 11. Salmon, of Wanganui, reserved his decision, stating that he wished to con sider evidence heard c-ut of Taihape. Plaintiff was represented by Air. W. H. Alaclean, while Air. W. K. Brown, of Wanganui, appeared for defendant. Edmund Thomas King stated in evi deuce that on the day in question ho was returning to Tainape from Hunterville, accompanied by Air. A, A. Munro and Airs. Houghton (Auck land). Air. Alunro was in the front seat. He arrived at the scene of the accident at about 5.0 p.m. The mishap occurred on a sharp bend on the road between Alangaweka and Utiku. He kept very closely to his correct side of the road all the way from Hunterville, as there was a good deal of traffic on the road. When he first saw defendant’s car it seemed to be almost in front of witness and wefl on its wrong side. Proceeding, witness said that his

car was right up against the bank and was actually in the water-table. There was only about a car’s length between the two vehicles when he first saw defendant. When he saw Chamberlain he turned away from defendant and applied the brake, but was unable toavoid a collision. His car Lore the luuning board of Chamberlain’s car off. Defendant’s car struck witness’ car with such force that it forced it hard on tne lock. Chamberlain said immediately after the avcideut that it was a case of “50 —50” and witness replied that the.e was room at that spot for three cars to pass. A “Baby Austin” came along soon afterwards and the driver—a man named Darcy, measured the marks. “He pointed out my wheel marks a good way over towards the centre of the toad, but this was due to the impact forcing my car on the lock. Aly car coulcto t move alter tne accident, and Mr. E. C. Gibbs picked us up,” concluded Rev. Kmg. Air. Blown: How long have you been driving') Witness: sixteen years. Counsel; The corner where the accident occuired is dangerous, is it nut? Witness; Yes. Counsel: You hugged the bank? Yes. counsel: You know that in hugging tne bank the effect when turning a corner would be to force your car out towards the centre of the read.—That is not my experience. Counsel: You must nave been singularly unobservant. Witness: 1 have always negotiated the bends comfortably. 1 kept as close to the bank as 1 could with safety. Chamberlain was on his incorrect side when 1. saw him. He endeavoured to get on tu his correct side but could not do so. i did not notice my car lift Chamberlain’s car, and nearly capsize it. 1 was looking right into the radiator when I saw his car. Evidence of a corroborate e nature was given by A. E. Alunro senr., who added that at the scone of the accident the road sloped towards the bank. Chamberlain put on his brakes and his car slid down the slope towards King’s car immediately after the collision. There was light loose metal where the accident occurred. E. C. Gibbs estimated the driveable surface of the road where the collision occurred at 18 feet. There was a lot of loose metal there. The effect of sudden braking woubl cause a car to slide down towards the lower side as there was a sic pc towards the bank. D. S. Alarsh. motor mechanic, detailed the extent of the damage to King’s car. The front axle was bent, the front dumbiron was buckled, the radiator and lamp were damaged. L. A. Chamberlain, defendant, stated that some distance from the corner where the accident occurred he was hard over on the correct side of the road. He pulled over towards the

centre a little at the corner so that the wheels would all be on the same grade and slackened speed when approaching the bend, but was stnl un uis correct side. Hu saw King's car and knew that it was almost impossible lor him (defendant) to puss, as the further King went round tne bend tn 6 further his ear went ouL towards the centio ol the road, ihere was a limit to pulling ears round a, corner. They were nut shaped like a boomerang. He could see tnat an

accident was inevitable and braked ms car hard and the vehicle gave a Kick off the back wheels of abuut 3ft. to sft. There was any amount of loom for King’s car tu pass, stated defendant, who added that he would not have taken a different course even it he had known that there was a car round the corner. King's car didn’t appear to slacken speea. There was no forwuiu movement in witness’ car after impact. His car was hit on the door. It was a direct hit. If there had been a forward movement there would have been a grazing. One side of his car was Jilted bodily and landed on the front wheels of King s car. The cars were locked and went down into the water-table together. “At the time of the collision 1 was on iny correct side except that the back ol my car was on cue border line. After the accident 1 got out and went wund to the back of iny car and waited for the first motorist to come along and asked him to measure the marks. H>s name was Darcy and King said to him that he (King), had been hugging the bank all the way. i will swear there was nothing said about it being a case of “50 —50.” After witness had been cross-exam-ined by Air. Alaclean on certain points, the magistrate reserved his decision.

MAJESTIC CINEMA Alice Brady, Jackie Cooper, Jimmy Durante, Frank Alorgan, Fay Templeton, Aladge Evans —brilliant names of Broadway and Hollywood —are on parade at the Alajestic Theatre, where “Broadway to Hollywood," spectacular cavalcade of the theatre, is now .Giowing. The great Aletrc-Goldwyn-Af.ayer pageant of the stage, mingling poignant drama with dazzlm pageantry, tells the story of three generations of troupers; the rise of vaudeville and the ultimate decline of vaudeville in favour of the motion picture. In this intensely Human drama of the loves and joys, the triumphs and heartbreaks of a vaudeville family whose career is traced over a period of fifty years, a touching narrative is inteiwoven with colourful spectacle as the audience from time to Lime sees what is going on upon the stage as well as behind the scenes. Fay Tempkton sings, Barney Fagan dances as of yore. There arc gorgeous Albertina Rasch ballets. The dramatic climax shews five hundred dancers m the largest talking-picture set ever built. Alice Brady and Frank Aforgan play ”!e original dancing team, progressing fiom youth to old age in superb characterisations. Jackie Cooper scores m the role of the young dancer, and Eddie Quilian gives a splendid ir.ipersonation of the grandson who b<!come- a famous Hollywood star “ Sen nozzle” Durante makes his every appearance side-splitting, as [ usual, and the romantic interludes are ably handled by Aladge Evans and Bussell Hardie. “Competition” “The Wandering Jew” was the answer io last week’s competition. The first eight correct, answers opened were from: P. Smith, J. Alanville, E. Harwood, Airs. C. Quirk, Dilys Williams, Pat Aloss, W. AlcKcnzie, T. A. Dick. r Jki3 week’s competition is the phrase used in conncctic-n with a famous star. This phrase can be round on the July calendar and consists of six words. What is the name of the star and the phrase. ECAIOMTTEEUAIPOAS N E D Al SEE All replies to be marked “Competition.” and are to be sent to the Alajestic Cinema not later than 9 a.m. on Thursday. MAGISTRATE’S COURT Walter James Thompson, enginedriver, Taihape, appeared at the .Magistrate’s Court on Thursday charged with the theft at Taihape on April 14 of one saw and one hammer of a total value of £1 2s 3d, the property of ATaxwell Jacobsen. Thompson was further charged wit.i stealing one brace of a value of 12s 6d, property of Fiederick Ernest Gray. A charge of committing mischief by

wilfully damaging one Union six lever padlock valued at 3s 6d, the property of the New Zealand Railway Department, was also preferred against Thompson, who was represented by Mr. T. C. Kincaid Thompson was convicted of stealing the saw and ordered to pav costs £3 J 6s 2d. The other charges were dismissed. William Patrick Casey was convicted and fined £2 and costs £3 9s 8d for neglecting to produce a ticket immediately it was called by the guard on the Wellington-Auckland express between FeiJding and Alarton on April 21. A further charge of travelling between Feilding and Marton without a ticket was dismissed. Casey was further convicted of attempting to sell an ait. union ticket on the train without being authorised by the Railway Board, r.nd was fined £2 and costs J6s. He conducted his own defence. He was allowed six weeks 1n which to pay the fines. GENERAL NEWS Th 3 Taihape and District Returned Soldiers’ Association will hold a carnival dance in the Town Hall on Thursday, Julv 5. Particulars will be advertised ia Monday’s issue. “How did the Alangaweka-Utiku Roafl impress you,” inquired counsel of defendant in a motor collision case heard at the Taihape Alagistrate’s Court on Thursday. Defendant, who is a Fordell farmer, replied that the road impressed him so much that he had come to Taihape by train that day ; nstead of by car. The day of the collision was tho only time he had been over the road and it. had taken him five hours to come from Fordol’ to Taihape. and he had been quite prepared to take 12 , hours going back. At the monthly Hitting of the Alagis- | trate’s Court on Thursday Sergeant i Joyce asked a woman defendant who . was charged with the theft of a pair of gloves and said that she had taken |

them by misiake. why she didn’t wear the gloves home. “Do you wear everything?” “I think that is a silly question,” replied defendant. “Perhaps the magistrate does not think it is silly in view of the circumstances of tho cnse.” rejoined the sergeant.