Liability of County Councils.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1576, 8 December 1885, Page 2

Liability of County Councils.

(USITED PRESB ASSOCIATION./ . V Wjestpobt, Monday, The District Court has been occupied for two days with the case of White r tho Buller County GounciK g claim for JJ2OO damages for injuries caused .& : plaintiff* waggon and horses by the road giving way under them. The road was constructed by the late Proviucial Government, and. the Count/ Council has- not meddled yrith it." At the part where it gave way there was evidence of knowledge on the part of tbo Council of the dangerous stato of tlm roadj and the Judge directed th« jury that, the Council were not liabl» for any faults m th<T construction, but if they knew of n serious danger exist. V ing inthe road and carelessly ueglected Jo remove it, they were liable to pay fot damage sustained by any person falling . into it, unless such person could with | reasonable care hare Avoided the danger. The Judge said the Question .©t how far the County Councils were hound generally to keep their roads' m repair- v was one of some doubt aiid difficult/, which should be settled by a decision of the Court of Appeal or by legislation. The jury gave a verdict" for £145. There are some other, civil , and bank* ruptcy cases for trial,' and s Count/ Council are moving for ~a~trial, on th» ; grounds that-the verdictswas against the weights of evidence and tho damage excessive.