DAMAGE TO CARGO

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2441, 21 April 1915, Page 10

DAMAGE TO CARGO

A CASE IN COURT. (By Telegraph.—Presg Aesoclfttlo&.i Auckland, April 20. Mr. Page, S.M., gave his reserved, decision, this morning in the case Wilson and Horton against the New Zealand Shipping Company, a claim of £101 os. 2d: for damage to rolls of paper injured by seawater on the voyago of the Knight of -the Garter from Canada to Auckland. He said tho case resolved itself into the question of whether the vessel was unseaworthy or that the goods were negligently stowed. He found that the structure erected to strengthen a doorway in the bulkhead was inadequate to meet the weather reasonably to be expected under ordinary conditions. In respect of this structure, the vessel was' unseaworthy, and the defendants were liable for such damage as was shown to have resulted from this cause. Counsel agreed that the amount would probably be settled between the parties.

The annual meeting of the Napier Branch of the Plunket Society was held on Monday. The report presented showed that the year "had been the most successful one on record. A total of £890 has_ been collected towards a cottage hospital, and the society's bal-ancc-sheot showed a credit in the bank of £235. No fewer than 248 babies were attonded during the year, and 1775 visits paid. Tho following officers were elected: —Patroness, Lady Plunket; rice-patroness, Mrs. Vigor Brown: president, Mrs. Geo. Kelly; vioe-presidents, Mesdames Sedgwick, J. A. Macfarlane, and Henley, a (id Mr. Hector Smith; hon. secretary, Mrs. Peter Ashcroft,