BIBLE QUOTATIONS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 81, 2 October 1931, Page 12

BIBLE QUOTATIONS

IN COURT OF APPEAL

A UNIQUE AUTHORITY

Before making his submissions, Mr. P. J. O'Began, one of seven, counsel, briefed in- connection, with the hearing, of legal argument in the Court of Appeal on an important question of law arising out of the Hawke« Bay earthquake, said he found himself in somewhat of a difficulty in replying to the series of formidable arguments, that had been addressed by counsel for the other side; and he asked the Court to bear with him if he appeared a little tedious. In developing his argument, h'wever, Mr. O'Began introduced a number of observations and citations, which, far from being tedious, were most refreshing. His comments, made in his characteristic style, caused at times a considerable amount of laughter, in which the Bench and tho members of the Bar joined heartily. Mr. O^Began quoted from an "entertaining" line of cases, and then referred among other things to happenings on the last Mount Everest expedition and on polar exploration trips, in support of his contention that the. effective cause of the injuries or deaths in Hawkes Bay was not the earthquake, but, the collapse of brick aid concrete buildings, and falling masonry. Counsel went even further; he quoted from the Bible, a rather unusual happening in Court. Mr. O'Began said the only reference he knew of from which it might be .said that -an earthquake was the direct cause of death or injury was in the Bible. He most earnestly referred to the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram against Moses and Aaaron, appearing in the Book of Numbers. Mr. O'Began was not sure of the chapter, but related the story from memory.

The chapter to which-Mr. O'Regan referred,'is 16, and the verses 31. and 32, and.are as follows:—

"And it came to pass as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them:' ' ,

"And the earth opened her mouth and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods." Mr. O'Began said he quoted the rerses most respectfully. He propounded the proposition that the Hawkes Bay earthquake did not directly injure or kill anyone, and that if a case was other* wise within the Workers' Compensation Act, the. fact that the origin of the accident was a thunderstorm, gale, or earthquake, was irrelevant.