STIR IN FARMING COMMUNITY.

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 53, 26 November 1926, Page 3

STIR IN FARMING COMMUNITY.

BY TBLEGBArH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION. Bleiilieiin, November 25. Tremendous public interest has been aroused throughout the Rai Valley district as the outcome of the recent Supreme Court action wherein A. M. Uebberd, a Opouri settler, secured judgment for £3O, and costs, against a neighbour, Leonard Neal, as tiie result of a fire. alleged to have been started by Neal. It spread to Hebberd’s place and destroyed two houses and otlier property. At a public meeting held at the Rai Valley uncomplimentary references were made to Hebberd’s action. It was felt throughout the Pelorus district that Neal had suffered an injustice, and that an endeavour should be made to have' the law amended to prevent tiie repetition of such a case. It was stated at the meeting that Hebbert had been granted a verdict for more than he had lost, and a resolution was carried denloring the fact that one of the settlers of the Rai Valiev should take action against a neighbour in a fire case, and that, otlier neighbours should have given evidence for tiie plaintiff in such case. It was pronosed that the settlers should subscribe to meet the amount of the judgment, but this was objected to, on the grounds that it would be making pavment *o Hebberd. Several speakers urged Neal to go to gaol rather than pay. -Neal confided tn tiie meeting that lie was not in a position to pay.