1894: traction engine driver prosecuted

A traction engine driver scaring horses on Blenheim’s Middle Renwick Rd copped an “exemplary fine”, this week 130 years ago, as we take a flick through the archives. From the Marlborough Express, March 17, 1894:

At the Magistrate’s Court yesterday afternoon, before Mr J. Allen, S.M., E. Powell prosecuted R. Andrews for failing to comply with the law in respect of the driving of traction engines along the public road.

The law states that a man must proceed before and a man behind the engine to give warning to all persons riding or driving horses, and every assistance must be rendered to persons passing by the engine.

Sergt. Major Scanlan conducted the prosecution, and accused pleaded guilty.

Mr E. Powell deposed that on the 7th March he was driving along the Middle Renwick Road in a trap with his two sons when he met a traction engine driven by accused. There was no person behind nor one in front of the engine.

As soon as he got abreast of it steam was turned on. His horse turned fractious, and accused, seeing that there was likely to be trouble, stopped the engine.

He (witness) came round a corner on to the engine, unexpectedly, near Mr Hale’s (gardener) place. No assistance was rendered him.

He asked the driver where the man in front was, and was told that one was usually sent to the front, but he was not there today. His horse would have burst through a wire fence if he had not held it. The horse then commenced to rear for

some time.

He then told his son to jump down and hold the horse’s head. His wife was in the habit of driving the horse, which was a perfectly quiet one.

J. Andrews was not sworn, and in making a statement said that he remembered meeting Mr Powell. Just before that he had stopped the engine for a coach to pass by, and in moving again met Mr Powell. He stopped and held the lever in his hand, but it slipped and the engine puffed. He did have a man in front, but

he had gone down another road. Another man had got down from the engine to render assistance, but seeing that he was not required got up again.

His Worship said that for the benefit of the public he would inflict an exemplary fine. He quite recognised the danger and nuisance of traction engines with regard to the traffic of the past. The full penalty was £10. He would fine accused £4 with 16 costs.

Defendant was allowed a week in which to pay the fine.

SUPPLIED James McAllister’s picture of Mr MI Jury’s new Steam traction engine seen at the railway station, May 1900. (National Library of New Zealand)