William Samuel Noster 

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a) BIOGRAPHY: Evening Star, Issue 9520, 18 October 1894, Page 2nDefacing a Building. Three boys, Edward Moore, Thomas Bustin, and William Noster were charged with defacing the dwelling-house of George Taylor. Mr Milne, who appeared for the prosecutor, asked to have the charge against Noster withdrawn, and this, by consent, was done. — George Taylor, laborer, residing in Stafford Avenue, said that on the night of the 9th inst. he was sitting alone in his house when he heard something thrown at the door. On looking about he saw that some filth had been thrown on the door, verandah, and door step. He waited outside till ten o’clock, when Bustin returned to his home, and he immediately taxed him with the offence. The boy denied that he threw the dirt, but admitted having, along with Moore, put dirt in paper. - William Noster said he was with Moore and Bustin on the night in question, and saw Edward Moore throw the dirt at the door.- Thomas Bustin denied throwing at the door, but admitted putting the dirt in paper for the other boy (Moore) to throw. Edward Moore admitted throwing dirt, and said that he and Bustin put the dirt in paper.— Mr Milne said he did not ask for a penalty, but merely an assurance that the annovance to his client should be discontinued. — The accused were convicted and fined 4s 6d each, and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon.nnBIOGRAPHY: Evening Star, Issue 11218, 18 April 1900, Page 4nTHE TRAMWAYS BILL.nnREPORTED FROM COMMITTEE.nnRECOMMENDATION TO PROCEED,nnSOME OF THE EVIDENCE,nWilliam Noster, gripman on the Mornington tramways, gave evidence in favour of the provisions in the bill regarding overcrowding and the Appeal Board. He considered that gripmen should pass a Government examination, because they had to bo physically strong, because they had no power whatever, to assist them with the brakes except their physical strength, and they must be cool-headed and sober men. They ought to be examined by a Government inspector, so as to prevent men coming on who were not qualified to drive a car. In regard to examination and fitness, witness was examined as follows:—nnYou consider that a man should not be put on without undergoing some examination as to his fitness?nnl think so.nnHave you known men to be put on cars to drive without anv previous training ?nnYes.nnDo you consider that right?nnNo. nnOf your own knowledge do you know that?nnYes.nnCan you state the date and the name of the man?nnl can state within three days of the date and the name of the man.nnWhat is the date?nnlt is about 18 days ago, or somewhere about that. I have been here 14 days, and it was a few days before I came up. It is within a month. The man was a conductor, who had never driven a car before, and the manager told him to go on, with one of the drivers and have a bit of practice.nnWhat did the practice consist of?nnlt consisted of five or six trips in his overalls with no uniform on, and then he was told to go on a car and take a shift on a Sunday.nnIs that a busy day?nnlt is one of the biggest days the drivers have. It is from 10 in the morning until half-past 9 at night. He did the shift right through, and he is now relieving, me while I amnnDo you consider, that a safe experiment to put a man on in that way?nnl do not. nnHave you ever known a ease where one conductor has had to work both on the dummy and the trailer?nnYes, they do that always after the tea trips. I have not seen the Order-in-Council, but I have heard of the manager being asked by the inspector why it has not been observed, and the manager said: "I have a new brake under consideration, and I think I can manage without an extra man."nnIs it very difficult for the driver on a wet night, to see the track on an overcrowded car?nnYes, it is. nnSERIOUS TRAM ACCIDENT.nnA serious accident happened shortly after noon to-day, when an old lady was ran over by tho Roslyn tram almost opposite Messrs Scoullar and Chisholm's faatory. It appears that she was coming down the hill, when she stepped in front of the car, which was proceeding in the same direction, and was instantly caught by it and dragged a yard or so. The driver pulled up promptly and the woman was removed to Messrs Scoullar and Chisholm's factory, where she was attended to by Dr Brown, who happened to be passing at the time. She was afterwards conveyed to tho hospital, where she was found to be in a very precarious condition, suffering from a severe scalp wound, and a bruised thigh. She was partly conscious on the way to the institution, and gave her name as Mrs Margaret Simpson, a widow, living in Canongate street. William Noster, who was conductor on the car, states that the woman was only dragged about a yard when the car was brought to a standstill. The tram caught her dress and she fell in front.nnOn enquiry at the hospital at a late hour we were informed that Mrs Simpson was in a very low state.nnLABOUR BILLS COMMITTEE TRAMWAYS AMENDMENT BILL (REPORT OF ON THE); TOGETHER WITH MINUTES OF EVIDENCE. (Mr. ARNOLD, Chairman.)nAppendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1910 Session I, I-09annPages 152 - 154nnThursday, 15th September, 1910. nWilliam Noster examined. (No. 18.) n1. Mr Rosner } What is your occupation ! —Gripman on the Mornington Municipal Tramways. n2. Are you a member of the Otago Tramways Union?—l am. n3. Are you sent here as a delegate to express you opinion on behalf of the union on this Bill? —Yes. n4. You represent specifically the cablemen ?—Yes. n5. Have you had any experience on electrical lines?—No experience whatever n6. How long have you been employed as a gripman?—Six years and a half n7. Have you been sent here to ask for anything on behalf of your fellow-cablemen employees? Yes, several things. n8. What are they?— They relate to the Appeal Board, and to overcrowding particularly n9. What about the motormen's certificate proposed under this Bill?—We are in favour of that, too. n10. Do you consider that gripmen should be included in this Bill as requiring Government certificates ?—Yes. n11. Why do you consider that gripmen should be included as requiring certificates?—l consider that gripmen on a hill cable-car service like ours have a good deal more responsibility on their shoulders than motormsn. n12. What line are you on?—Mornington line. n13. What grades have you on your line?— They range from 1 in 10.to 1 in 6.1/2 on the main line —that is, the High Street line. The steepest is 1 in 6.1/2, and the biggest is 1 in 10, in High Street at Melville Street. n14. Where is the Maryhill line? —That is an extension of the other line. n15. Have you driven on that?— No. n16. Are you liable to take up a position on that?— Yes. n17. It is in the same company?— Yes. n18. What is the grade at Maryhill?—! in 3J.n19. Why do you consider that gripmen should have to pass a Government examination 2—They have to be physically strong, because they have no power whatever to assist them with the brakes except their physical strength, and they must be cool-headed and sober men I consider they ought to be examined by a Government Inspector so as to prevent men coming on who are not qualified to drive a car n20. What brakes have you?—We have a wheel brake and a slipper brake—two lever brakes. n21. Is there any mechanical test required of a gripman ? —A man could learn it during his course of conducting, and would know the different weaknesses of a car through being outside, and when he had learnt to drive he would have to depend on his strength and judgment to stop the car when required. n22. Supposing he loses the rope, does he require to use the brakes to stop the car from going down ? —lf the rope is missed we have to stop the car with both brakes before we can get it. n23. You consider that a man should not be put on without undergoing some examination as to his fitness?—l think so. n24. Have you known men to be put on cars to drive without any previous training? —Yes. n25. Do you consider that right? —No. n26. Of your own knowledge do you know that?— Yes. n27. Can you state the date and the name of the man? —I can state within three days of the date, and Ate name of the man. n28. What is the date?—lt is about eighteen days ago, or somewhere about that. I have been here fourteen days, and it was a few days before I came up. It is within a month. The man waf/ a conductor who had never driven a car before, and the Manager told him to go on with one of the drivers and have a bit of practice. n29. What did the practice consist of? —It consisted of five or six trips in his overalls with no uniform on, and then he was told to go on a car and take a shift on a Sunday n30. Is that a busy day? —It is one of the biggest days the drivers have. It is from 10.in the morning until half past 9at night. He did the shift right through, and he is now relieving me while I am away n31. Do you consider that a safe experiment, to put a man on in that way? —I do not. n32. What is the name of the man? —Henderson. n33. 'And you consider that men should have certificates to prove themselves? —I think so. n34. Take clause sof the Bill, with regard to overcrowding are the hill men you represent in favour of this clause? —They are strongly in favour of it. n35. And they believe in restricting the number of passengers to be carried on a car? —Yes, they do. n36. What do your cars carry on the Mornington line?—We are licensed by the City Council to carry thirty-two seated and four standing n37. You say they are licensed to carry thirty-six?— Yes. n38. Is the number put up on your cars? —Yes. n39. Is that provision observed? —No, it is not. n40. Of your own knowledge, how many have you carried?—l have carried seventy on the car n41. Seventy instead of thirty-six?— Yes. n42. Do you consider that safe? —No, I do not. n43. Where does the gripman stand? —In the centre of the car n44. What distance is he from the front of the car in that box?—lt is about 12 ft. n45. Are there any partitions between him and the clear sight of his trade?—On the side of the three front windows we get one clear one. n46. Are the passengers liable to get in front and obstruct the gripmen's sight of the track? —They do. n47. In an overcrowded car? —Yes. n48. Do you consider that safe?— No. n49. Then you are in favour of this clause being inserted in the Bill? —Strongly in favour of it. n50. Do you ever take any trailers? —We have one trailer n51. What is that run ?—Regularly from 5.o'clock until a quarter to 7, and then at times when it is wanted between 7.o'clock and the finish of the day n52. That is during the tea trips and theatre trips?— Yes, any time when there is a rush. n53. And at holiday times?— Yes, and on 'Sundays, too. n54. How many men does it take to work those cars?—We only get a driver and conductor, and during the tea trips we have a conductor between 4.30.and 6.o'clock. We could not do it with anything less. n55. Are you aware that the Department has specified that there should be a man on the trailer to work the brakes in addition to your own brakes? —Yes. n56. Has that been observed? —No, only on the tea trips the conductor who collects on the trailer has to look after the brakes of the trailer n57.You say that that is not always observed? —No. n58. Have you ever known a case where one conductor has had to work both on the dummy and the trailer? —Yes; they do that always after the tea trips. I have not seen the Order in Council, but I have heard of the Manager being asked by the Inspector why it has not been observed, and the Manager said, "I have a new brake under consideration, and I think I can manage without an extra man." n59. Is it very difficult for the driver on a wet night to see the track on an overcrowded car? Yes, it is. n60. Do you require to see the track? —Yes, you must.n61. Do you have greater difficulty in seeing the track than a motorman would have on an electric car?— Yes. n62. Why? —When we are driving we are away back ten or twelve feet from the headlight, and have to look over the apron of the car We do not get a view until we are 6.ft. further on, and then there is an obstruction by the glass and wood, and if you look sideways on you also have wood and glass to interfere with your view n63. What kind of headlight have you?—We have a kerosene light, but I think that is as good as the electric light. n64. The speed does not concern a cable car?— No. It may take charge of the rope, but it practically gets all right again n65. As a delegate of the union you approve of the speed-limitation for other cars?—l cannot speak of that; because they are electric cars, and I know nothing about them. n66. Have you an efficient sand-gear on your cars?—No; the sand-gears are a big source of trouble on the Mornington cars. We require a good deal more sand on a cable car than on an electric car, because we can only skid the wheels with the brake, and without sand the brakes are practically useless. If the car gets a bit of momentum on we cannot stop her easily We have to slacken down on the rope and make another stop. n67. Do you consider paragraph (c) of clause 5.of the Bill would provide for the maintenance of a better sand-gear for your cars? —Yes. n68. What about the cars on Maryhill?—They have only sand-boxes on one end of the car n69. Is there a turntable, so that the cars can turn round and use the sand-box going downhill ?—No, we have to do that. n70. I take it, then, that in going down one way no sand can be used at all?— There is no sand at all. n71. And the grade is steeper there?—On the steeper grade there is no sand, and I have known the car travel 100.yards without a stop n72. What hill do you call that?—lt is the grade at the back of the tram-sheds. That is what we call the steep grade. n73. And owing to the box being fixed at the other end of the car you cannot use the sand? Yes. n74. Do you consider there should be a sand-box at each end of the car ?—Yes. n75. And do you think that under Government supervision that would be provided?— Yes. n76. What about your slipper brake —is that effective?—l consider the slipper brake is not strong enough for our car.!. n77. What about the Appeal Board provided for in this Bill? Can you give an opinion on that as a cable-man ?—Yes. n78. Have you any Appeal Board on the Mornington tramways? —We have none at all. n79. Whose decision is taken? —The Manager's decision is final. n80. Is the Manager a practical man?— Yes, but I consider he has too many duties. n81. Does his whole duty consist of managing the tramways?—He has other duties. n82. What?—He is Town Clerk and Manager He is in charge of the borough. n83. Is he the Borough Engineer? —There is no other Engineer, and I cannot say whether this man is an engineer or not. n84. Seeing that he does not devote his attention solely to tramway matters, do you consider he is in a position to give a final decision in regard to offenders who may be brought before him ? —No, I do not. n85. Have you had any men dismissed on your service? —We have. n86. Will you give an instance? —Yes. The engine-driver who was employed permanently at the power-house was discharged. The Manager before the one we now have came out of the engine-house, where he was employed as engine-driver, to act as Manager, and another man was taken on in the late Manager's place. The man was only there temporarily, and when the Manager did not suit and was discharged he was put back in the engine-house, and the man who was there temporarily was kept on and the permanent man discharged. n87. Do you consider that would have been a fair case for an Appeal Board to decide? —Yes. n88. Do you know any conductor who has been dismissed? —Yes. n89. How long ago?— About six or eight weeks ago. n90. How did his dismissal come about? —He was discharged, they said, owing to retrenchment ; but another conductor was put on there temporarily, and instead of discharging the temporary man the other conductor was put off, and he was immediately taken on to work on an electric car n91. Did he have a good record in the company ?—He had about eighteen years' service. n92. Do you think that would have been a fair subject for an Appeal Board? —I do. That was Mr McNaught. n93. With regard to the car report-book, what have you ?—We have a very good system, and Ido not think we could have anything better We have a bound book that provides for the day and date of entries, and it is accessible to anybody It is a very good system, and I should not like to say anything against it. n94. Your men have access to the book at any time? —Yes, any time at all. n95. Mr. Have you had any accidents? —Yes, several. n96. Any runaways?— No. n97. What have the accidents been ?—A boy was killed a few years ago, and a boy was run over and had his foot cut off. n98. Do you think this Bill would have prevented that?— Under the circumstances it would not, because the driver failed to see the hoy on each occasion.n99. Your overcrowding is generally when the car is going up-hill?— Both ways. n100. Is not most of your traffic up-hill? —Most of it is. n101. Have you had any accidents through overcrowding?— Yes. n102. What? —I was coming down on the 1 5.from the top when the up car wag coming up crowded, and the conductor ran round to clear the passengers and get a better hold, and ran into my car n103. Did the Public Works Department prosecute you for that? —No. n104. Or the conductor or motorman? —No. n105. Did the police prosecute? —No. n106. You say that your cars should-have better brakes? —Yes. n107. Are they passed by the Public Works Department? —Yes. n108. It is rather an indictment of the Department or the Government for allowing the cars to be passed—it is a serious charge, is it not?—l consider they should have made them a good deal stronger than they are. n109. Mr A K S Mackenzie.] Both the eases of dismissal were attributed to retrenchment? Yes. n110. The question of retrenchment would be one of policy, and would not come under the provisions of this Bill in regard to the Appeal Board—that is, an individual appeal? —If we had had an Appeal Board we should have been able to show that it was not a question of retrenchment. n111. Would it not be a question of whether an individual man might lose his place or not? —We think if there has been an appeal the other man would have gone. He would not have had any ground for appeal, because he was told that he was there temporarily, but when the other man came back he was told to go. n112. Mr Blow.} Is the Maryhill Extension worked regularly? —Yes, from 7.30.in the morning until 11 at night, barring Sundays. n113. How often does it run?—lt is a ten-minutes service during the busy time, fifteen minutes after lunch, and a twenty-minutes service during the quiet times. n114. Is the traffic on the Extension very heavy ?—No. n115. Do you ever have overcrowded cars on that Extension? —Never n116. Is there overcrowding on the other systems? —On all of them. n117. Have you worked on the Roslyn system?— Yes. n118. Do you know of your own personal knowledge that overcrowding has occurred on that system?— Yes. n119. Does it occur to the same extent as on the system you have described? —1 did not have so long an experience there as on the Mornington system. Mornington I think has more. n120. Mr Bosser } With regard to the retrenchment, were the men satisfied that retrenchment was the true reason for dispensing with the services of the man you spoke of? —No. n121 Do you consider a man with eighteen years' service would have a fit case to take before the Appeal Board against a man who had been taken on temporarily? —Yes. n122. That would be a fit subject-for an Appeal Board?— Yes. n123. Is there very much space between the cars as they pass and repass on your system?— No. n124. What space is there between the two footboards?— Twenty-two inches, I think. n125. Then, practically, you are here to give expression to the views of the whole of the men in reference to this Bill? —Yes. nnBIOGRAPHY: Otago Daily Times, Issue 14987, 10 November 1910, Page 4nnnBIOGRAPHY:Otago Daily Times 13 March 1911 Page 6 :-nThe staff of the Mornington municipal tramways waited upon Mr W. Noster at his residence, Mornington, and presented him with, a handsome travelling bag. Mr Noster is leaving for a holiday trip to England. In making the presentation Mr G. Thorn referred to the high esteem in which the recipient is hold by his fellow workers, and jocularly stated that if the King and Queen knew Mr Noster as well as the tramway staff did they would be the first to take his hand on arrival in the Old Country. He concluded by wishing Mr Noster a pleasant voyage and safe return. Mr Noster thanked the staff for its gift, and remarked that he appreciated it the more because it had surprised him. He acknowledged the kind feelings which accompanied it. A few hours were then happily spent in song and story.nnBIOGRAPHY: Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11952, 9 June 1913, Page 3nGOING THE PACE. Charges of driving at a rate of speed which was dangerous on a public highway were brought against Wm, Noster.nnBIOGRAPHY: Timaru Herald 14 January 1914 page 9 :-nW. Noster was granted a transfer of a taxi license from the Motor Co. to himself, and permission was given to have a street telephone erected.nnBIOGRAPHY:Omaru Mail 21 July 1915, page 6 :-nMAGISTRATE'S COURT.nTHIS DAY (Before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M.) MOTOR CAR ACCIDENT. PONY DESTROYED ON WAITAKI BRIDGE.nRobert Henry Bennett (Mr P. C. Hjorring) claimed £25 damages from William Samuel Noster, of Waimate (Mr Lucas), caused by defendants' negligence in driving a motor car across Waitaki Bridge so that a pony belonging to the plaintiff was so severely injured that it had to be destroyed. nnChas. Robert Bennett, son of the plaintiff, stated that he was riding the pony along Waitaki bridge on May 9th when he saw a car coming from the north. Witness was riding northwards, and was on his right side of the bridge. He noticed as the cur turned in on to the bridge that it was coming as fast as cars usually travel on the roads. He did not notice the car again until it was 100 yards from him. He then saw that it was on its wrong side of the bridge, one iron rail being under the car. The car, which was still going fairly fast, did not slow down, so witness reined his pony as close in to the rail as he could. As the car passed the pony reared and swerved, and the car struck its leg. The car stopped 20 yards further on. The pony fell and could not get up as its leg was broken. There were six men in the car. Mr Grave came up on a motor bike and asked whose fault it was. One of the men in the car said it was the boy's fault, but another said he did not think it was. The men, after saying they would tell the bridge-keeper to remove the pony, got into the car, but got out again and lifted the car over on to its right side of the road, got in, and drove away. Later on the pony was shot and thrown into the river. When other men from the end of the bridge came the pony was lying practically where it fell with him. nnTo Mr Lucas The horse's feet when it fell were pointing inwards on the bridge. No part of its body was on the rail. When he saw the car coming he did not cross over as the car was coming so fast that he would not have had time to cross. No matter who swore otherwise, he would swear that that the car was on its wrong side. The pony swerved when the car was a few feet away. It was upon the suggestion of the motor cyclist that he asked the driver's name, and was told “Noster, Waimate" and advised to take the number of the car. Witness did not admit to Noster that he was on the wrong side of the bridge. nnEric Wade Grave, a lay clerk in the office of Messrs Ongley and Bulleid, gave evidence that while crossing Waitaki bridge on a motor bicycle he saw a motor car stop, men get out and walk back. He saw a pony lying on the left-hand side of the bridge. The pony was lying between the rails and the side of the bridge. If it had been going north it was on its right side of the road. "When witness got to the pony he saw the boy Bennett by it. He asked the men how it happened, and one of them said the pony had struck the car with its legs. He heard the men in the car blaming the boy, and another replied, "Don't blame the boy, it wasn't his fault." The car was some 10 or 15 yards from the pony. A man out of the car asked witness to remain with the pony until they got someone to remove it. The car was on the left-hand side of the bridge with one rail under it. The car was on its wrong side. Afterwards he saw the men lift the car over from the wrong to the right side of the road. nnTo Mr Lucas: Witness was going to Timaru. nnHis Worship asked what was the distance between the railway rail and the bridge rail. Messrs Lucas (who had measured the distance this morning) and Hjorring, not agreeing, he decided that evidence must be called. Robert Henry Bennett, farmer at Waitaki, owner of the pony, said he had refused £23 from Geo. Hunter, of Richmond, for the pony in February. He had measured the distance between the rail and the bridge-stop rail, and that was 5 ft 7 inches. The distance between the railway lines was 3 ft 3 ins. The railway lines were in the dead centre of the railway bridge. After the accident he went to see Noster, and said he required compensation. Noster said he was sorry, but the boy had been to blame. If witness took the matter to Court witness could pay for it. nnTo Mr Lucas: The pony was a four year-old gelding. nnJohn George Harper, a farmer at Waitaki, said he remembered Noster coming to him on Sunday, 9th May after o'clock. Noster asked him to drag a pony off the bridge, adding that the pony had collided with his car, and would have to be shot. Noster said he would “see witness right." He saw the car pass while he was away getting assistance. There were four or five men in it, and they were singing. When he got to the pony it was found that the leg was badly shattered above the hock. The pony was shot and thrown into the river. Witness later met Noster in Waimate and asked about payment for shifting the pony, and Noster said there was going to be trouble about it, but whichever way the case went he would see witness right. nTo Mr Lucas: The easiest way for a car coming the way that Noster's car did would be on the wrong side of the bridge. Some horses could not be induced to cross the rails after having been put on the right side. nnTo the Magistrate: The back of the pony was towards the rails, and his feet towards the side of the bridge. Walter Belcher, jun. a laborer at Waitaki, stated that the pony's legs, when he came on the scene, just as the car was staring away north, were facing towards the edge of the bridge, and not towards the rails. Jas. Kelly, a railway surfaceman, said that the pony's legs were facing up-stream. The break on the pony's leg would be over two feet up from the ground. In his opinion, there was not room for a pony to pass a car on the wrong side if the car had one rail under it. Walter Belcher said he had seen Noster on the Sunday in question. Noster said he had run into a pony and had broken its leg. He had not been going fast. Witness stated that there were three or four young fellows with Noster. "all lively."nnGeorge Hunter stated that he had offered £23 for the pony, but was refused. This closed the case for the plaintiff. Wm. Samuel Noster, a taxi-cab driver, of Waimate, said he had never had an accident. He was travelling at about 10 miles an hour, but slowed to 5 to cross the bridge. He went on the bridge on his right side, and when he saw the boy the boy was on his own right side of the bridge. Witness continued his pace of eight miles till close to the boy, then slowing to four miles. Both parties kept their right sides until the car was about a length from the pony, when it propped down and swerved right round until the wheels jumped one rail in the effort to avoid a collision, but without avail. When he struck the pony both railway rails were under his car. It was an easy matter to cross and re-cross these rails in a car. He pulled the car up in a couple of lengths. When he first saw the pony its hindquarters were lying on the rails and its legs were pointing upstream. If witness had been on the wrong side the car would have had to go over the horse's body. The boy's evidence that witness was on the wrong side was not- correct. There were four passengers with him. The first thing witness asked was: "Are you hurt?" Bennet replied that he was not hurt, but the pony's leg was broken. After the saddle was taken off the pony, witness told the boy to wait by the pony while witness got assistance. He did not ask Grave to stay. Witness then went down to the bridge end to get help. When he pulled up both rails were under his car. Before getting in to drive away they lifted the car back over the one rail it was astride of before the accident. "Witness said to Bennett: "I'm on my right- side, son. Bennett said: "Yes, the pony backed into you." Witness then got assistance, telling the men that a pony had broken its leg on the bridge, and that witness had to take a load of passengers into Oamaru. Witness did not say he would pay for the assistance, but that the men would get paid. No damage was done to the car except a bend to the front mud-guard, which he straightened with his hand. The inside measurement of his car was 4ft 6in. The iron rail were 3ft 5in apart. It was 6ft from the iron rail to the guard rail, which was 5in. wide, giving a total distance between rail and bridge rail of 6ft. 8in. He did not know the width of his car from mud-guard to mudguard. nnTo Mr Hjorring: All were sober. They had no liquor on the road. They were merely out for a joy-ride. When witness came on the bridge there was nobody else on it. The accident happened two hundred yards on the Oamaru side of the centre of the bridge. The boy was not on the bridge first, It was easier to come onto the right-side of the bridge from Glenavy. The story of Bennett was a fabrication. To avert the accident when he saw the pony he had to swing the car over, and in straightening it out before coming to a stop the two wheels climbed or jumped the rail. He had not intended to pay Harper himself for removing the horse.nnCecil Mason, a groom, said he came down with Noster from Waimate. They left at 10 o'clock. They came onto the bridge on their right side, and he saw nobody on the bridge. The first thing that came on was a boy on a pony. This was when they were some distance along the bridge. The boy was on his own left-hand side of the road. The left-hand rail was then under the car. The pony was walking quietly along the bridge. When the car came near it the pony swerved, its head pointing up stream and its quarters towards the car. Noster pulled the car as far to his right as he could, but could not avoid the pony, which was struck and jumped over to the up-stream side of the bridge.nnHarry Kaan, a jockey, who had accompanied Noster, stated that the horse was lying after the accident with its hindquarters and forefeet pointing towards the rails and its head pointing up stream. Asked to explain this position by Mr Hjorring, he failed to satisfactorily do so. Both he and the previous witness estimated the value of the horse at £lO.nnThe Magistrate said the question to be decided was whether the boy's story or that of the defendant was true. The boy's story was a straight-forward one, and was backed up by that of Grave, an independent witness. That of the defendant was, while, similar in some points, not corroborated on others. The defendant's explanation of the accident and the way in which he had attempted to avoid it were most improbable. Then they had the defendant's own admission that he had given Harper to believe he would pay him for removing the pony without any intention to do so. A person of such loose principles might be relied upon to stretch his own story to fit, as he thought, his needs. As regarded contributory negligence, Bennett was but a boy, and where a man would have crossed over out of harm's way, he kept to his right side of the road. Plaintiff was entitled to damages, £25, Court costs £2 2s,.solicitor's fee £2 12s, and witnesses' expenses £4 5s 4d, a total of £33 19s 4d.nexpenses £4 us 4d, a total of £33 19s 4d.nnBIOGRAPHY: Timaru Herald, Volume CVI, Issue 16238, 17 May 1917, Page 3nSamuel Noster, taxi proprietor, Waimate, said he had to support his invalid mother, and his brother was at the front - He considered that he had been boycotted by the married men who were driving taxis in Waimate, because he was single. He had to sell his car, and had to seek employment as a farm labourer. He was prepared to go to the front if something could he done for his mother. He also had about ten acres of potatoes ready to be dug. The appeal was adjourned till next sitting to see what could be donennTimaru Herald, Volume CVI, Issue 16267, 21 June 1917, Page 3nMilitart Appeal BoardnW. S. Noster, Waimate, said he had to support an invalid mother, and his only brother was in the trenches. ln reply to Major Gresson, appellant said he paid £1 a week regularly for the support of his invalid mother, plus occasional extras. He was willing to go into camp if he were allowed a little time to get out his crop of ten acres of potatoes. He asked for six weeks and was allowed till July 23.nnOtago Witness, Issue 3352, 12 June 1918, Page 35nNOSTER.—On May 10, 1918, died from wounds received while in action "Somewhere in France," William Samuel Noster (31st Reinforcements), eldest son of the late Elizabeth and Samuel Noster (late of Mornington, Dunedin), and brother of Frank Noster, Mrs Frank Palmer (Waimate), and Mrs Fred. Harlcy (Featherston); aged 36 years.nIn a distant land he liesnAt rest in a soldier's grave;nHis battle- fought,, his name enrollednOn the scroll of the deathless brave.nA lonely crave in a far-off land,nA grave we may never see,nBut while life and memory lastnWe will remember thee.