CLAIM FOR £2,500 DAMAGES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1147, 7 June 1911, Page 4

CLAIM FOR £2,500 DAMAGES.

ACTION AGAINST A SHIPPING COMPANY. IBy Tclcerapli.—Press Association.) 'Christchurch, June 6. At the Supreme Court to-day Florence Louise Dummcr claimed from tho Shaw, Sarin, .ind Albion Shipping Company, Ltd., JJIMO damages, and Ernest Edward Duninu-r .C 100!) damages, for bodily injuries received by Florence Louise Dummcr whilst proceeding from England to New Zealand by Die s~s. Taiinii. A special jury of twelve was empanelled. Florence Louise Dummcr slated that she was a third-class passenger from London lo New Zealand by tho Tainui, At about 10 o'clock on tho morning of November Iβ, when they wero between the Capo and Hobart, she met with an accident and had since been suffering from its effects. Another witness, who came out in the Tainui on the same voyage as Mrs. Bummer, said that on the morning of November 1G she went up on deck with Sirs. Dummcr and her three children. When crossing along an alleyway, to the sheltered side of the deck, a wavo swept over tho deck. Witness was herself nearly washed down the hatchway. Sho afterwards learnt that Mi*. Dummcr had been hurt. It was the custom for third-class passengers to pass these alleyways.

Tho defence was that plaintiff Louise. Dummcr had been carried by the defendant company on the voyage upon terms amongst others that the defendant company should in no case be liable for any loss or injury arising from negligence in (ho navigation of tho steamer, and nt (he timq she ,v:as alleged, to have been washed over, the servants of the defendant company were engaged in an act of navigation, nanifly. the fitting up ,of a cluster of electric lights in the buukorhold of (lie- f-teamer, which lights weixi required-'for the purpose of working coal in the hold, and, in order to do ii', it was necessary for the defendant company by its servants to temporarily open sueii hold.

The case- had not finished when the Court rose.