BOY'S LOSS OF EYE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10608, 5 June 1920, Page 2

BOY'S LOSS OF EYE

CLAIM AGAINST HIGH SCHOOL BOARD. »

FEB PRESS ASSOCIATION'. CHRISTCHURCH, June 4. An interesting case opened at the Supreme Court to-day, before Mr Justice Herdman and a jury of twelve. It was a claim for £IOOO damages for loss of the sight of an eye by H. M. Urquhart, fifteen years of ago, who is proceeding against the Asnburton High School Board through his guardian. The statement sets out that on June 2nd, 1919, an explosion occurred during an experiment in a class-room. - Tho master was preparing a mixture from bottles taken from the school labtxratory, and, owing t.o his negligence and that of some other servant of the board, a wrong chemical was used, owing to a- bottle being incorrectly labelled. An explosion occurred, and as a result plaintiff lost the sight of his left eye. The statement of defence, in addition to a general denial, is that the Ashbtirton High School is a public school, established., by the Legislature, and carried on without remuneration under the control of the Minister for and is for the public benefit, and not. for private gain, and that the sole duty owing to the plaintiff was to provide a. competent teacher of chemistry, and that this had been dona., DAMAGES AWARD/ED. Tho jury, aftfcer a retirement of half an houir. found that the injury was caused by tho negliigence of the Ashburton Hi«h School Board or by the negligence of a servant of tho board, and awarded plaintiff £BOO and costs. Consideration of a nonsuit point was reserved. •