Sergeant Thomson, giving evidence, said that the bulb was a 15-candle power used with a powerful concave reflector, the strongest light used on a Buick car.
It was a regular searchlight, quite unsuitable for use in the city, and impossible to face.
It was not the power of the globe, but the way it was fitted to throw up the light that caused the trouble.
Motorists agreed that it was a useful light on country roads, provided it could be dimmed when traffic was being met.
Evidence for the defence was given by the defendant and Albert Edward Smither, the driver of the car on the night mentioned, both of whom said that the lights were not the strongest in the city and not so dazzling as had been contended.
To Sub-inspector Broberg Smither said he was not under the influence of liquor when spoken to by Sergeant Thomson.
He was not aware at the time that there was legal provision against the use of brilliant lights.
The Sub-inspector remarked that the case was one of those in which there would always be a good deal of dispute.
Unfortunately, the Act did not provide for the commandeering of the lamps so that they could be exhibited in court.
The Magistrate pointed out that the Act provided that the light should not be of such dazzling brilliancy that it would affect the vision of drivers of vehicles approaching from the opposite direction.
The sergeant and constable had placed themselves in the best position to judge of the effect of the lights, and he did not think their positive evidence was done away with by the statements of the defendants.
As this was the first case under the Act, and the provisions might not be very well known, he would inflict only a small penalty, a fine of 5s, with costs (7s).
• The strong winds that have been experienced generally during the past week appear to have visited Ranfurly with especial severity.
At this town which is practically unsheltered on all sides, the gale reached its height on Wednesday afternoon, and a good deal of damage to property resulted, but fortunately no one is reported as having been injured.
The wind played havoc with the railway goods shed.
Sheets of iron were blown in all directions, and the building was practically unroofed, only seven sheets being left on one side of the roof and nine on the other.
The force of the wind may be further gauged from the fact that three of the wooden rafters of the goods shed, 24ft in length, and measuring 6in by 4in, were lifted from the roof and carried a distance of fully 100 yards from the building.
The chimneys of several houses were also blown down, and in the case of one resident, the wind removed part of the side of his house, making it necessary for the occupants to seek other accommodation.
The gale is stated by residents of over 30 years’ standing to have been the most severe that was ever experienced in the district.
Our correspondent at Becks advises that part of Mr Beattie’s house, on the Downs, and also part of Mrs Jane Mee’s sheds were blown down by the gale. — ODT, 9.9.1916.
• COPIES OF PICTURE AVAILABLE FROM ODT FRONT OFFICE, LOWER STUART ST, OR WWW.OTAGOIMAGES.CO.NZ
