Damsges Awarded.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 August 1922, Page 1

Damsges Awarded.

in. TELEGRAPH—PER PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON. Aug 12. An action for loss of wages and medical attendance £ir>| 55., and general damages £350, a.s the result of an accident while in the employ <,f the Union Steam Ship Company, was heard in the Supreme Court before Mr Jlisten Salmond the plaintiff being Walter Sodden Fraser, a waterside worker, of Wellington. Mr O. C. Mnbengarb appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr C. G. White for the defendant company. The statement of claim was that- on November 9th.. 1921. plaintiff was working dischargng No 1 hold of the Kanna. One of his duties was to connect the hook of the wire rope tied round two barrels of beer on the floor of the hold, an dwliile thus engaged the liatohlunn in charge, negligently and withut awaiting the usual signal from below'. gave the order to hoist. In consequence three fingers of the plaintilt's left hand were caught between the book mid the bight of the rope, and plaintiff w ent up w ith I lie beer to a height of some seven feet before the slip was again lowered. The liatcliinan was a fellow-servant of the Company. Plaintiff had three lingers crushed and the bones of the middle linger broken, was still unable t<> work and would never recover the full use of the left baud. The Union Company recognised no liability for damages, but bad paid compensation at the rate of £2 12s (Id per week, to July 18th., 1922. In the circumstances plaintiff considered the’ compensation inadequate.

The defence was a denial of ncgli gence.

There was a slight conflict of evidence ns in whether or not the j>lni 11 - tiff line! .given any signal to hoist. The jury retired at 12.15 p.ni. and returned at 2.10 p.ni., with ;i verdict for plaintiff <*f £537 10s Gd., deducting the sum of £lOl 12s, already paid. His Honour gave judgment for the balance, £135 18s Gd., and costs.