HEDGE EIRE.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19147, 2 November 1927, Page 14

HEDGE EIRE.

CAUSED BY TRACTION ENGINE.' COURT ACTION FOLLOWS. On February 22nd last at about 2 p.m., a traction engine owned by Messrs Frew and McCrostic was driven along the "Two Chain" 'road, near Norwood.- It was drawing several heavily-loaded trailers and emitting « good deal of smoke. A fire occurred in a hedge shortly after the engine had passed the spot. As. a result, J. D. Stewart, a Norwood farmer (Mr J. H. Upham), claimed in'the.Magistrate's •Court from-the-defendants, Frew and. McCrostie, haulage contractors, at Greendale (Mr F. D. Sargent), £4B os 6dascompensation for damage done to his gorse hedges b.v fire, alleged to have been caused by defendant's traction engine. -

Mr H. A. Young. S.M.,.gave his reserved judgment in, the case yesterday morning,: in tho Magistrate's Court, stating ■ that there was : no fire in or about"the hedge' when, tho engine, passr ed, and before the fire occurred tliere was no other traffic . from : which it' could have. originated. On the evidence, the only "conclusion to be arrived at that the fire was caused by sparks from the engine. Science and care could not prevent a traction engine from emitting sparks; defendants. however, had taken all possible steps to minimise the danger. The evidence showed that the damage sustained by the plaintiff from that sustained., 'by ! a neighbouring farmer, amounted to £42 3s, and judgment was therefore entered; for -the "plaintiff for £42 3s and costs. As costs for an appeal, the sum of £lO 10s was fixed.

A CLEVER PRACTICAL JOKE, .A sprightly old chap at a local board-ing-house hit upon a novel plan. Knowing that a fellow-boarder drank J.D.K.Z. Gin, lie conceived the idea of : becoming n somnambulist, and made numerous nocturnal visits : tf) his friend's cupboard. The ruse, however, was quickly discovered, and the cupboard key is now kept in a safer place. —7