A composite image of how a roundabout might look at the busy city centre intersection.
A composite image of how a roundabout might look at the busy city centre intersection.
The Whanganui District Council is to trial having a roundabout at the Guyton St-Victoria Ave intersection instead of traffic lights. It's a junction with previous form, as MURRAY CRAWFORD reveals.
The Guyton St-Victoria Ave intersection issue has been around for 25 years, said a district councillor as last week's meeting voted to try a roundabout there.
Really? How about 125 years and more? That's how long ago dangerous behaviour in the area was first highlighted in our local newspapers.
"Guyton Street is now frequently used as a convincing speed ground on which to test the merits of horses," the Chronicle warned way back in 1877.
"Yesterday two equestrians might have been seen doing a gallop on this thoroughfare. The safety of the public should surely be a prior consideration to the superiority of speed and endurance claimed by owners of horses, who could find room beyond the suburbs for turf amusements." (Chronicle: January 27, 1877).
But a new threat soon emerged with the advent of the horseless carriage and, if a roundabout had been in place in 1907, it may have saved two automobile drivers the embarrassment of appearing before the local magistrate.
The first, Arthur Lewis, was accused of motoring round the Guyton St corner into the Avenue at 10 miles per hour (16km/h, the speed limit around corners was 8mph). His case was dismissed but his Honour was not so lenient with Thomas Atkins, alleged to have cornered at 14mph! He was convicted of "furious driving" and fined £5 plus costs, the magistrate noting that Atkins was "a somewhat confirmed offender".
By 1913, the growing number of automobiles was causing concern.
"MOTORISTS IN THE AVENUE", headlined the Chronicle (April 25). "HOW TO STOP FURIOUS DRIVING."
Just a month previously, the Wanganui Herald (March 13) had reported a case of furious driving by Douglas Forlong, who was accused of running down three volunteer firemen (who were crossing near the site of the council's proposed new roundabout).
Murray Crawford.
Witnesses variously estimated the speed of the offending vehicle at: less than 5mph, 5mph, 7-8mph, 20mph, considerably over 20mph, 30mph.
Constable McMillen said there was no sign of driver intoxication, the foreman of Chavannes' garage gave expert evidence as to a vehicle's propensity to skid on a wet surface, Forlong himself asserted that he'd tooted his horn to warn of his approach and his front-seat passenger testified that he was blowing his dog whistle and wondering why the men wouldn't get out of the way.
He also stated that Fireman Maroney "caught hold of a strap from the hood and sat partly on the mudguard and partly on the lamp, holding on to the lamp with both hands. He smilingly said, 'I can hang on, can't I?' He also declared that he was not hurt."
His Honour acknowledged the great divergence in the evidence presented, but agreed with the defence's position that if the car had been going at the speed alleged by the prosecution then Maroney's injuries would have been much greater.
However, he considered that an offence had been committed and imposed a fine of £3 plus costs.
Several years later (1921) the Borough Council, when appointing its new Inspector-of-Just-About-Everything, thought it had just the man for the job.
"The name's Fear. George Fear!"
Mr Fear lost no time in gaining a reputation equal to his moniker as automobile owners soon discovered.
Perhaps the appointment of an inspector possessing a zeal equal to that of George Fear, along with a return to an 8mph cornering restriction, would better ensure the safety of pedestrians than the proposed ridiculously expensive roundabout.
Murray Crawford is a Whanganui author with an interest in local history. Newspaper references have been sourced from Papers Past: National Library of New Zealand.
