The Brunner Disaster Cases.

Hastings Standard, Issue 456, 21 October 1897, Page 2

The Brunner Disaster Cases.

(By Telegraph.) (Per Press Association.) Wellington, This day. Argument is being heard to-day in the Court of Appeal in the GreymouthPoint Elizabeth Railway and Coal Company v. M-Ivor, an appeal from a decision of the Chief Justice. The question of IaAV raised for argument before the Chief Justice was whether the fact of the establishment of a fund by public subscription for the benefit of the families of those killed can be taken into account by the jury in assessing the injury resulting to such families from the accident. Counsel for the company contended, on the authority of cases in which property accruii.g to a family through the death of a father has been deducted from compensation, that the value of benefits Avhich will probably be received from a relief fund must be taken into consideration in the present case. The Chief Justice said that as there Avas at the date of death a mere chance only of the raising of such a fund compensation must be assessed according to the facts existing at the date of death, the subsequent raising of the fund could not be taken into account. The company now appeals from this decision. Mr Gully and Dr Findlay are appealing for the appellant company, and Mr Jellico'.for"the respondent.