ACCIDENT AT CALICO LINE BRIDGE HAS MARTON COURT SEQUEL

Wanganui Chronicle, 9 November 1950, Page 2

ACCIDENT AT CALICO LINE BRIDGE HAS MARTON COURT SEQUEL

The sequel to an accident which occurred on Calico Line, Marton, on the night uf September 23 when a light truck smashed into the bridge span*ning the Tutaenui Stream and completely sheared off the hand-railings on the left-hand side, was the appearance in the Marton Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning of Alva Thomas Dyer, fencing contractor, Kopane, who was charged with driving without due care and attention.

Defendant pleaded not guilty. After hearing the evidence, the magistrate, Mr. A. Coleman S.M., held that Dyer was not looking where he was going and his speed was too fast. A fine of £5 (costs 12s) was imposed. Traffic Officer, Mr W. C. Shaw, who prosecuted, said visibility was good at the time of the accident. Defendant was approaching Marton from Calico Line, but when crossing the bridge at the bottom of the decline just before entering Marton borough, he completely severad the railings. I’he car continued over the bridge and ended up in a ditch on the right-hane side of the road, 141 feet from the enc. of the bridge. After showing the magistrate photo, graphs of the damaged bridge and vehicle, Mr. Shaw said it was his contention that defendant was travelling too fast on a road with which he was unfamiliar. Dyer, in evidence, said he estimated his speed at 40 m.p.h. just before the accident. He was dazzled by an ap' proaching car as he was going down he depression. He did not brake but cept to the left-hand side of the road, le did not know the brdige was not in .he centre of the road, but more towards the right-hand side. Further** nore, the structure was overgrown with willows and was a one-way jridge. In cross-examination Dyer said he lid not remember whether the car with the dazzling lights passed him or lot, or turned up another street. It was the duty of motorists when lazzled by lights to pull up, said the magistrate. Defendant did not do that mt went straight ahead, without lookng where he was going. His speed, inder the circumstances, was too fast, le held that an offence had been comnitted and imposed a fine as stated ibove. LIQUOR NEAR DANCE HALL Pleading guilty to a charge of being in possession of liquor in the vicinity sf the Marton Victory Hall where a dance was in progress, Alfred William Burling, Marton, was convicted and fined £3 (costs 10s) by Mr. A. Coleman, S.M., in the Marton Court yesterday. Defendant pleaded guilty through his counsel, Mr. F. C. Christensen. Sergeant Brown, who prosecuted for the police, said that defendant's car was found outside the dance hall with three empty bottles of beer and seven full bottles. Mr Christensen said defendant came into town with the beer, but had no intention of going to the dance. He, however, met some friends and the car was parked outside the hall. During the evening a constable saw persons drinking beer but when challenged they ran away. A search 3f Burling’s car was made and the liquor found. HOW COUNCIL SPENT ITS MONEY 1 To give the ratepayers an indication of how the council spent its money during the last financial year, the Mayor, Mr. T. E. Barton, has presented a summary of expenditure. Over one-third of the money was spent on the gasworks. The library and town hall absorbed 3.8 per cent, of the money, administration 6.1 per cent., public works 17.43 per cent., reserve’s 2.97 per cent., water supply 9.29 per cent., street lighting and traffic control 2.7 per cent., gas department 34.8 per . cent., hospital levy 6.75 per cent., I loan repayment 9.71 per cent., inter- ’ est 3.25 per cent., sundry ilfems 2.25 | per cent. ! Rates struck for 1950 amounted to £13,374, as against £12,385 in 1949 and £11,820 in 1948. The increases were necessary to meet increasing costs of i wages and ma. 'rials but the increases imposed were only sufficient to meet maintenance of borough facilities,| and many urgent works had to be, , held over. rhe revaluation of the i I borough and the resulting increase of I , 43 per cent, on the unimproved value , had permitted the council to strike I ] a rate for the current year to cover these urgent works.