A WHEEL OF CIRCUMSTANCE

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2232, 19 August 1914, Page 7

A WHEEL OF CIRCUMSTANCE

OBSTRUCTIONS FOR SHIP. RATS. Some time ago a Wellington resident, Hamilton L. Wortbiugton, patented an obstruction for putting on the ropes by whioh ships are tied up so that rats would be prevented from getting ashore. The Kia Ora Galvanising Uompauy, of Wellington, wae in structod to make a quantity of' these for Worthington, and yesterday the makers and inventor were parties in the Magistrate's Court to an aotion in which the oompany sued' the inventor for £.67 'as money due for making a .number of his devices. ' The defendant , (Worthingtdn) said that he did hot owe the money as the arrangement was that he should pay for the articles when they were sold, and that these had not baen sold owing to a ourioua ohauge of circumstances, which he proceeded to detail. After he invented hie ratobstructor, an Order-in-Oouncil was passed in New Zealand compelling ships to use 6ome euch nieans'of dealing with rats, and practically (in effect) compelling them to use his device. A couple of months later, however, someone discovered that in 1912 an International Convention, held in Paris, had arrived : at an agreement regarding .rats on ships, and that the New Zealand Ordor-in-Counoil was not in keeping with the. agreement. The Government had, therefore, immediately taken eteps to have the Order-in Council' revoked. This was the reason why the articles made had not been sold, and, as his arrangement-was to pay when sales were "made, he denied liability. Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., who hoard the. qaae, considered that Worthington was liable, and entered judgment for the plaintiff coriipany for the amount claimed. Mr. E.. O. Levvey ropfesontod the plaintiff, and-Mr. H. F. O'Leary the defendant.