A few moments later I was overtaken by a lady, a stranger to the city, who was much shaken and almost hysterical.
She informed me that she had almost met with an accident with the same motor car, pointing to it in the distance. She said it swept past her and touched her skirt. It was travelling at an enormous speed.
The recklessness exhibited by the drivers of these cars is dangerous to the public, and there should be stricter supervision than appears to be exercised by the police. But what if the police bring a case before the court for furious driving?
What satisfaction is gained when a paltry fine of 10s is all that is imposed by the magistrate; or when, as occurred lately, a defendant who has run over a pedestrian is eulogised by the bench for his careful driving.
Apparently the old order under which the road was first for the pedestrian has been reversed.
It has always been understood, rightly or wrongly, that the King's highway is sacred to the life and liberty of his subjects, however humble, and that the responsibility for the safety of vehicular traffic, wherever used on the King's highway, rests on the owner of such vehicle.
This has apparently been wrong. The vehicle now takes precedence of the pedestrian, or, at least, has equal rights with him.
It has always been in the writer's mind that the law was made for all classes of the King's subjects - blind, deaf, maimed, etc., and that they had the right of the road, and must be cared for; but apparently if a motor car driver sounds his horn and then runs someone down he incurs no liability.
- I am, etc., Ruthven.
• The feat of building a church in one day, carried out in one of Auckland's suburban districts some time ago, is to be repeated at Glenfield.
Up to the present time the only building available for religious services has been the local school.
The idea of providing a more suitable building having been mooted, was taken up with enthusiasm, and the erection is to take place on a Saturday early next month, the opening services being arranged for the following day.
The organisation of the work is in very good hands, and the response for funds and labour has been so generous that it is anticipated that the building will be completed in the day and opened free of debt.
• It is not often the interest of digging the flower garden is augmented by the discovery of a cannon ball.
This, however, was the fortune of Constable Boyle, of Akaroa, the other day, who was digging in his garden in Lavand street.
The old cannon ball is a 24 pounder, and it is almost certainly one from the French magazine, which, about the year 1840 was situated close by on the site of the Akaroa Courthouse.
The ball is identical with those found at Red Point across French Bay, where the French men o' war in the old days used to practice and use the bright coloured point as a target.
The cannon ball has now been deposited with the town clerk of Akaroa.
• For some years past the ordinary horsedrawn hearse has been dispensed with in most American cities in favour of the motor hearse.
The first Wellington motor hearse made its appearance in the streets on Tuesday. The new vehicle has embossed glass sides and decorative features on the top. Its appearance caused a good deal of comment among the throngs which witnessed its procession through the main streets.
- ODT, 24.8.1915.
