CLAUDEL HOBSON BRITISH MADE CARBURETTERS

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1539, 23 October 1919, Page 31

CLAUDEL HOBSON BRITISH MADE CARBURETTERS

“I don’t think it is any use discussing motor lorries. It’s a waste of time. We’ll have electric vehicles within 12 months. That I feel sure,” said Councillor J. Stopford at the last meeting of the Matamata County Council. “In fact, I am sure or it,” said Councillor E. C. Banks, and other members concurred with the remarks. «.• • » • The circumstances attending an accident which occurred at the corner of Tory and Vivian Streets, Wellington, on August 27, were investigated before Mr. E. Page, S.M., at the Magistrate’s Court, when Rennie Alberta Townend was charged with driving a motor car at a speed dangerous to public safety. According to the evidence, on the date in question the defendant was driving her car up Tory Street, and as she approached the Vivian Street intersection she met a tram which was proceeding along • Vivian Street towards Cuba Street. She swerved to the right to avoid the tramcar, and in doing so knocked down a man who was standing at the corner of the street, and then collided with a horse-drawn vehicle which was proceeding along Vivian Street in the direction of Kent Terrace. The injured man. whose name is John Dobson, wa& picked up and taken into the hotel, and subsequently removed to the hospital suffering from fracture of the base of the skull. For the defence, counsel said that during the afternoon the defendant was at an hotel in Tory Street about 13d yards from Vivian Street. She left the hotel in her car with the intention of going to Cuba Street, and . not knowing the locality well, she was directed to take the second turning to the right. As she was proceeding to the take the turn she met the tramcar on her left, and she then swerved in further to the right. In doing so she passed over the corner of the footpath and struck the man, who she thought was standing on the road’ The evidence showed that the motor car was proceeding at a normal speed, and that Mrs. Townend was not driving recklessly, but was exercising every care. The defendant thought that her way to safety was to keep to the right, as she desired to avoid the tramcar. The defendant gave evidence on the lines of counsel’s statement. His Worship said that a conviction must be recorded. He considered that defendant had driven the car negligently, and her negligence lay in the direction of placing herself in the position of having to drive over the footpath to avoid a collision with the tram. No doubt the defendant was strange to the thoroughfare, but she should have exercised more care. She would be fined £2 and costs.