SPREADING GRASS FIRE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10614, 12 June 1920, Page 8

SPREADING GRASS FIRE

SHEEP FARMERS AT VARIANCE. FSB FEBSS ASSOCIATION, CHRISTCHURCH, Juno 13. A claim for damages, allegedly caused by the spread of • a grass lire from one mrm to another, was concluded before Air Justice Herd man and a special jury. Louis Henry Aladdison, of Soargill, sheep farmer, had proceeded against Archibald Earshmann, of Hurunui, sheep farmer, to recover the sum of £1076 lUs (id damages. The statement of claim sot out that on August 11th, 1919, defendant, by hia agent or servants, caused a fire to bo lit on property belonging to the defendant at Hurnnui, adjoining the north-west boundary of the land belonging to plaintiff. The fire, plaintiff alleged, escaped and spread to adjoining land belonging to him, and caused damage to Ills property by burning grass and tussock thereon, over an area of 1850 acres, burning to death five sheep, and by damaging plaintiff’s fencing; further, that as a result of the fire, plaintiff alleged that ho had been compelled to sell 626 ewes from, his flock and was deprived of the profit on the wool ami lambs therefrom. In consequence, also, he was compelled to remove 513 ewes from that portion of the farm which had been burned, and graze them on otner lands which he was keeping fo’fattening purposes. Lastly, on account of being forced to roll 626 owes, plaintiff was deprived of the lambs therefrom and his flock was rendered lem valuable to him. Defendant denied that the fire started on his property, hut said it spread to i(. and damaged his property and that, of others. The iurv a've-i»il ulamtiff dsmaees amounting to -C-rsc \o<j K)d and costs.