"WHEN DOCTORS DIFFER."

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 449, 9 November 1880, Page 3

"WHEN DOCTORS DIFFER."

The Brisbane correspondent of the Sydney Morning Herald has the following : —A more astounding difference between professional men upon an appaienlly simple matter could not be than this displayed durng a recent lawsuit. The case was what is called " protracted," and it had a few curious points about if. Imprimis, it was a dispute between two insurance companies, the New Zealand and South British—of itself an edifying spectacle. The solicitors and barristers engaged were nine in number, and it was a dispute about a fire. The action was on a policy of insurance issued by the South British Company on the fine now premises of the New Zealand Company, and the amount claimed was £2700. The facts reposed in a nutshell, as the saying goes. Last September soon after the new building was in occupation, a miserable little greengrocer's shop next door was, fortunately, for lovers of street architecture, burnt down. The New Zealand Company alleged that certain cracks in the wall under which the fruit shanty nestled wore duo to the fire—damages as above. The South British replied to the action by paying a frugal £69 into Court. That was their estimate. Two professional men swore that the fire had injured the building to the extent of £3000, another gave fiom £1,500 to £2.000, another stood by £1.500, anoiher was ready to sink or swim by£2Coj,the Colonial Architect said £115 was enough, and Mr Cowlishaw put the correct figures at £180. Tim jury had thus an ample scale varying from £115 to £3000, and they assessed, the damages at the lowest amount.