BOY’S LOSS OF EYE

Hokitika Guardian, 8 June 1920, Page 3

BOY’S LOSS OF EYE

CLAIM AGAINST HIGH SCHOOL BOARD. CHRISTCHURCH, June 4, ’ An interesting ease opened at the SnprenSe Court to-day, liefore Mr Justice Herdman and ft jury of twelve. It was a claim for £lOfX) damages for loss of tlie sight of an eye by H. AT. Urquhart, fifteen years of age, who is proceeding against the' Ashburton High School Board through Ids guardian. . 'Die statement sets out that on June 2nd, 19.19, an explosion occurred during an experiment in a class-room. •The master was preparing ,:a mixture from bottles ,taken from the school la-'

borntorv, and, owing to'his negligence and that of some other servant of tlie board, a.wrong chemical ivas used, owing to a- bottle being incorrectly labelled. An explosion occurred, and as a result plaintiff lost the sight of bis left eye. The statement of defence, in addition to a general denial, is that the Ashburton High School is a public school, established by the Legislative and carried ori without remuneration, under the control of the .Minister for Education, and is for public benefitj and not for private gain, and that the sole duty

' owing to the plaintiff was to provide a competent teacher of chemistry, and tin's had been done. i • DAMAGES AWARDED. , The jury, after a retirement of half an hour, found that the’/injury was caused by the negligence of the Ashburton' High School Board or by the negligence of a servant of the board, and awarded plaintiff £BOO and costs. Consideration of a non-suit point was reserved.•