WAIROA INSURANCE CLAIM

Hokitika Guardian, 24 June 1931, Page 5

WAIROA INSURANCE CLAIM

HEARING CONTINUED. PLAINTIFF’S CASE CLOSED. THE DEFEND 1C OUTLINED. (By Telegraph—Ter Tress Association ) GISBORNE, June 23. Upon tire conclusion of .nr .-oiaii’s evidence, the plaintiff’s ease concluded, subject to the right to call further evidence on the quest.on of damag.s. Opening for the defence, .Mr Richmond explained that Insurance Companies "h ie always sympathetic and reasonable, in dealing with losses, had a duty to shareholders and tile general body of policy-holders. lt< was obvious no criticism couid he justly Jewelled against the Companies for refusing to cover risks for which no prem.ums were paid. Risks attendant upon an earthquake were so great, that they could not be taken into consideration in ordinary fire cover. In the present case it was a remarkable coincidence that the fire occurred such a short time after a serious quake in a place where no known fire danger exists. Plaintiffs gave no reasonable explanation of the origin of the fire, but he submitted that the outbreak was caused by the fusion ol electrical wires between the walls of the chambers. Plaintiffs themstdves had eliminated other probable causes, Might it not be that they proved their case a little too well, from the managing Director down to the boys. There was a common .interest and it might be that in proving the fire was not caused by any other means, th y had shown it was caused by the earthquake. Defendants* had no one to help them in their case. Everyone in Wairoa was vitally interested in the success of the action and it was natural, therefore, that the defence was unable to present anything like the number of witnesses called for plaintiffs. Evidence would be given, however, that the damage done by the quake was minimised by the earlier witnesses and that the effect of the shock had been greater than that described. This was supported by correspondence immediately after the earthquake, particularly the frantic telegrams sent for boats to remove the carcases,

EVIDENCE FOR DEFENCE. GISBORNE, June 24. The hearing of the claim of Wairoa Farmers Meat Coy. against New Zealand and Eagle Star Insurance Companies for £77,850 allegedly due iu respect to damage caused at the Company’s works by fire on February sth. was continued at the Supreme Court to-day, the whole morning being occupied by hearing further evidence by W. H. Gummer, an Auckland arclijtect, . regarding his inspection of the damaged buildings. Witness produceu many photographs and gave a mass of detail of, the damage to each section of the works, stating that me effect of the earthquake lintl been very severe, many walls being cracked, ana other damage caused.