SEIZING THE S.S. WAIRAU.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1072, 21 November 1911, Page 3

SEIZING THE S.S. WAIRAU.

ON A WRIT OF SATE

A peculiar action was held in Wellington Supreme Court on Friday, when the Public Trustee, as administrator of the estate of Peter Tiernan, late of Wellington, seaman, deceased, proceeded against Joseph Auguste Perauo, of Piclou, master mariner, for leave to issue a writ of sale against the s.s. Wairau, owned by Perauo. The deceased, while working about the Wairau, was (frowned at Havelock on 20th December, 1910. He left a child which had previous!}' been committed to the industrial school. The Public Trustee, as administrator of his estate, proceeded against Perano in the Arbitration Court 011 SUI September for ,£325 compensation under the Workers’ Compensation Act, 1908, alleging that the child was totally dependent on deceased. Ou 2nd October, fyn, the Court awarded the Public Trustee the lull amount of compensation, bolding that the child was totally dependent on deceased. Perano is stated to be uninsured against accidents. The Workers’ Compensation Act provides that where an accident happens on or about a ship the amount of compensation is a charge thereon, and can be enforced by the Supreme Court by a sale of the ship, aud as the defendant had not paid the compensation or offered to settle it, the Public Trustee applied for leave to issue a writ of sale.

The Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) made au order as asked, the order to lie iu the Court for two days.