MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Wanganui Chronicle, 3 June 1950, Page 8

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

The monthly sitting of the Taihape Magistrate’s Court was held before Mr A. Coleman, S.M., on Thursday. Blair Stevens, L. G. Snelgrove and C. W. Smith were charged with being in possession of liquor in the vicinity of the Rata dance hall on April 1. After evidence had been given by Constable McLennan, of Hunterville, the magistrate convicted each defendant and inflicted a fine of £3 and costs 10s in each case. Joseph John Carney, of Waipukurau, faced a charge of being in possession of liquor in a railway carriage. Sergeant X. Griffith said that a complaint had been received that defendant was drunk on the train. A fine of £4 and rests 12s was imposed. Parking Over Fire Plug Archibald Stuart Logan, printer, Taihape, Alexander Kemp McKenzie, school teacher, Omatane, D. A. Wright, farmer, Mangaweka, and John Fernie Roberts, shepherd, Ngamatea, Taihape, were each charged with parking a car over a fire plug at Taihape. Sergeant Griffith mentioned the localities in which the vehicles had been parked over fire plugs. Logan said that his offence had been committed at night, when it was extremely difficult to see the markings. He suggested that steps should be taken to make the fire plugs more prominent. Each defendant was fined 10s wltn costs 10s in the case of Logan and Wright, and 12s costs in respect of McKenzie and Roberts. A charge oi di’iv’ng without a licence was also preferred against Roberts, who was fmed £1 and costs 10s for this offence. Dangerous Driving The Transport Department (Mr G. A. Ward) proceeded against Basil Sydney Lawrence (Gisborne) on a charge of dangerous driving at Bulls on January 26. Inspector Ward said that fitsaw Lawrence driving at a speed which he estimated to be 45 m.p.h. as defendant was approaching Bulls. Lawrence drove across an intersection at 35 m.p.h., said the inspector. Mr A. C. O’Connor, who appeared for defendant, said that Lawrence was driving a low Englis ear with a noisy exhaust. It was posssible that the inspector had over-estimated the speed of the vehicle owing to the noise of the exhaust. The magistrate pointed out that Lawrence had admitted that the inspectors estimate of'the speed was correct. It was unlikely that the inspector had made a mistake. Lawrence was convicted and lined £2 and costs 10s. Traffic Breaches William John Henry Whiteside, taxidriver, of Auckland, was chaiged with failing to keep to the left on January 25 near Hunterville. The Transport Department prosecuted. Whiteside was convicted and lined £2 and costs 10s. Raymond Earle Arrow (Taihape’ faced a charge of failing to give way at an intersection to another vehicle on January 25 at Taihape. It was stated in evidence that defendant had failed to give way to traffic on his right. Mr G. A. Ward prosecuted for the Transport Department. Arrow was fined £l. Morton Meredith, cartage contractor, Utiku, was charged with operating a motor truck with an excessive rear overhang. Mr W. C. Shaw prosecuted on behalf of the Transport Department. He said that Meredith had c..rted on a motor truex railway rails overhanging the rear of the truck by 13ft. Defendant carried no warning flags, said the inspector. A fine of £2 and costs 10s was imposed.