WRECK OF THE PENGUIN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2895, 8 September 1909, Page 17

WRECK OF THE PENGUIN.

CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION. WELLINGTON, September 2. The Arbitration Court sat to-day to hear a further claim for compensation lodged against the TTmon Steam Ship Companyi by the relatives of persons who lost their lives as a result of the wreck of the steamer Penguin "on February 12. His Honor Mr Justice Sims and Mr J. ' A. M'Cullough were on the Bench.- Mr Levi appeared for the Union Company. j^ Charles Cook, solicitor (of • Wanganui), who has not practised since 1900, claimed compensation in resjrect of the' death of Ins son, Forth Rotherham Cook, who was steward on the Penguin. Mr Treadwell,. who appeared in support of the claimant, • stated that the latter had done nothing to support himself since 1900 owing to illhealth. He had no means himself, but his wife had an income amounting to about £30 peT year. His fafrnily now, consisted of six boys and two girls. The girls earned nothing, but the boys helped to keep the house. Three of them living with him paid from 10s to 18s peT week for board. With the sources of income claimant now had it was hard to make both ends meet. Before his son was drowned he paid claimant 10s per week, or, rather, up to September, 1908, when the payments ceased. Claimant was in receipt of the old-age pension (£2l per annum), and wag 80 years of age. He went to England in 1900, hoping to ge* a share in some property and become independent, but he received nothing. The 10s per week from his deceased son made all the difference in his living. Mr Levi (for the company) said that there was a large family, and on the particulars before the court (and an obvious conflict between the statements made in the claim and those in a letter written by the deceased to his mother prior to the wreck) it was difficult to say whether the claimant had receievd any real benefit from the deceased. It was clear, counsel submitted, that the deceased had sent no money to the claimant after he left Wanganui. His Honor said that if this were so it would be a question of what the benefits were prior to deceased leaving Wanganui. The case was adjourned in order to ascertain the exact date when deceased left Wanganui.