THE BLACKMORE CASE

Feilding Star, Volume VI, Issue 105, 19 February 1885, Page 2

THE BLACKMORE CASE

TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAB.

Bir, — This case has been decided and the result establishes the plaintiffs claim to compensation from the Feilding Borough Council. Six months' expensive litigation has been forced on the plaintiff and £40 damages awarded. This amount, Sir, will not cover Mr Blackmore'e outlay. Having been nonsuited with £27 10s costs, he will have to pay this amount, leaving the magnificent balance of £12 10s out of which to recoup himbelf and his lawyers. It must be borne in mind that in these £40 damages, injury to plaintiff's health and work and money expended in saving the bridge " were not taken into consideration," and, therefore, "morally and equitably the Council is still entitled to fuUy compensate him." This action has cost the Council fully £150, and no doubt plaintiff was made a scapegoat to avoid other actions.

Now the fight is over, surely the Council will take a beating gracefully and have some sense of justice, and ai the eleventh hour do what is right to Mr Blackmore. He has in his possession the timber and ironwork of the old bridge, saved by him at great labor and expense, and this material would always be of use to the Council ?

Would it be an unreasonable suggestion that the Council should take this material and vote a substantial and adequate sum to Mr Blaekmore as salvage ? It will surely be admitted that so far, although the right iB proved, there has been aggravation instead of compensation. I am informed that Mr Blackmore has been enabled to refund to the citizens their generous and voluntarily subscription. Would it not, therefore, new be a graceful act of the Council to bury the hatchet, and act as above suggested ? — I am, &C., FAUtPLAT. I Feilding, 17th January, 1885.