Adsett v. Manchester Highway Board.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IX, Issue 102, 2 April 1885, Page 2

Adsett v. Manchester Highway Board.

« By a private telegram from Wanganui we learn that m the case Adsett v. the Manchester Highway Board, claim i; 2,500, judgment was given for the plaintiff for .£54(5, leave being reserved to apply for a iudgment for the defendant on law points. Mr Hutcheson appeared for the plaintiff, and Messrs J. H. Hankins and Barnicaat for the defendants. The damages claimed were for the results of a fire, destroying tramway, timber, &c, property of the plaintiff, said fire having been lit by an employe of the Board. The question raised was whether the Board was liable for the action of its : servants. Much argument on both sides f took place, plaintiff's counsel citing many cases to prove liability, except for an outrageous or entirely unnecessary act by theservant, m whichjease the employer would not be liable. There was no alternative but for the case to go to court, as the Board could not legally either settle or compromise the claim, however disposed to do so they may have been. It will be an expensive matter for the Board as the costs will be considerable, the total amount being little short of £1000 we should say, and should the case go to the Court of Appeal considerably more. We should not imagine that the plaintiff will have much to take out of his verdict, after all incidental ex- ! penses and his counsel shall have been paid.