A CLASSROOM ACCIDENT

Southland Times, Issue 18840, 5 June 1920, Page 6

A CLASSROOM ACCIDENT

CHEMISTRY STUDENT INJURED. INTERESTING COMPENSATION CASE. (Per United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, June 4. An interesting case opened in the Supremo Court to-day before Mr Justice Hcrdman and a jury of twelve, a claim for £IOOO danias;es for the loss of sight of an eye by 11. M. L rquhart. aged- fifteen years, who is proceeding against the Ashburton High School Board through his guardian. The statement of claim sets out that on June 2, 1910, an explosion occurred in a classroom. A master was preparing mixtures from bottles taken from the school laboratory and, owing to his negligence and that of «omc 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 Ashburton High School is a public school established by the Legislature and carried on without remuneration under the the control of the Minister of Education and is for the public benefit and not for private gain. The sole duty owing to plaintiff was to provide a competent teacher of chemistry and this hud been done. 1 tic jury, after a retirement of half an hour, found that the injury was caused by the negligence of the Ashburton High School Board or by the negligence of a servant of the Board, and awarded plaintiff £SOO and costs. Consideration of a non-suit ;>oint was reserved.