DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 February 1925, Page 4

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION*.]

A PECULIAR CASE. WANGANUI, Feb. 1G

111 connection with a claim by Annie Cricks, the widow of Chas Pereival Cricks, against .Martin and Vernon, for £2,00!) damages incurred by her and her son in consequence of her husband's death which was caused through a collision of the latter’s bicycle and one of defendants’ ears, the judgment was w rongly stated in a previous Press Association’s message. The issues agreed upon, and put to the jury were: (1) Did the driver of the car cause the accident by not using reasonable care ?

(2) Could Cricks have avoided the accident by exercising reasonable care for his personal safety? (:j)—To what damages is plaintiff entitled ?

His Honour in summing up said it was important that the jury should answer all the issues. After brief deliberation, the foreman of the jury informed his Honour that the jury had agreed to answer the bust two questions in the affirmative, hut Hint in view of their answer to the second issue they did not think it necessary to answer the question relative to damages. The .Judge asked the jury to retire again and assess the damages as in view of eventualities it was their duty to do so, The Jury then awarded damages to tile extent of £<soo: claimant to receive £3OO and her son £2OO. Mr Cohen. Counsel for defendants, thereupon moved for judgment, submitting that the answer to the second issue entitled him to receive judgment for his clients. llis Honour entered judgment for Martin and Vernon with costs, witness’ expenses and disbursements, and gave a certificate for the second day of trial, leave being reserved to plaintiff’s counsel, Mr Cunningham, should he think lit so to do, to take out a motion for judgment for plaintiff. STOP-WOE lx MEETING. WIOSTPOET. -February Ho. A stop-work meeting of the Westport Coal Company’s M.illerlou miners was held on Saturday morning over the installation of electric lighting in the mine, which moans a reduction of Ml in the tonnage rate. The increase conditionally granted some time ago, rec-arrying powder also entered in to the dispute. It was decided to go to work, hut when the men arrived at the mine, the magazines were closed and the mine idled for the day.

it is understood that work will he resumed to-morrow morning.

COM PE NS A TlO X A WARDED. WANGANUI, February 10. At the Supreme Court the widow of Charles Pereival Cricks was awarded £doo damages against .Martin and Vernon, taxi proprietors, as a sequel to a recent fatal collision. THE MOEKAKI. WELLINGTON, February 11. The possibility of trouble when the Moeraki, with iioiiuiiiotiist crew 011 hoanfv arrives from Melbourne, was foreshadowed by a Labour official today. The if act .that '.the shipowners are bringing the Moeraki to New Zealand indicates that they are looking for trouble, he said. This vessel signed on a nonuiiionist crew at -Melbourne. and was declared “ black hv the seaman of Australia. '1 he shipping companies must have known that neither the seaman nor the watersideworkers of New Zealand will he inclined to accept labour 011 what they term, a “seah ship.”

It seems therelorc, that the iuteii tion i-> to bring the watersiders trouble In New Zealand. The men employed in the maritime industry will certainly show resentment at the action ol the Union Steamship Company in bringing this vessel to New Zealand, and most likely will refuse to accept work, either as waterside workers or seamen on hoard of her when she ai 1 ires. MELDOUENE. February 13. *1 lie :,nr , ..iv« lien- 1 V 1 fir Tijcy informed the shipping master that they arrepted payment under protest. Some announced their intention of remaining, and transferring thcii membership In the Australian Seamen’s Union, The married men with families will return to New Zealand ALLEGED CALLOUSNESS. WANGANUI, Fch. Hi. Tu reference to I lie drowning fatality at Aranioho recently, and the alleged callousness of the onlookeis. Magistrate Barton has now obtained a leport which clears up the complicating i-late-nienls and shows that there wits no undue delay in aUempts at rescue. PICTURE THEATRE DESTROYED. TAUMAEANVI. Fell. Hi. A fire nt Olmra destroyed f.lie picture theatre owned by J. Kawlil and tie ollice of Mr W. 11. JJtighes, solicitor. The insurances are unavailable. HEAVY DAM.U.os. CHRISTCHURCH, February 10. At the Supreme Court to-day Hugh John Dyke Acland was awarded £7o(l general damages and £l2O 17s special damages in an action against Refer Wood, lloiirmiller, arising nut of a collision between the plaintiff's motor cycle and defendant’s motor car at a street intersection in tne city. Plaintiff .-aid the collision was caused through the defendant giving insufficient warning of his intention to turn. As a. result he was koeked over, and suffered a compound fracture of both hones on the left leg above the ankle. j Consideration of a non-suit point, that Acland had been travelling an an exies.sive speed, and that this in itself was the effective cause of the accident was lu'ld over. CLERGYMAN'S FALL. DUNEDIN, Feh. 10. Donald Seaeroft Freer, Vicar of Port Chalmers Anglican CTinr.h. appeared on remand before Mr 11. AY. Bundle, iS.M.. at the Police Court to-day on two charges of having indecently assaulted two hoys, aged ten and seven. The accused, who was represented by Mr W. G. Hay, pleaded guilty and he was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence.