A COMPENSATION CASE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 88, 12 April 1912, Page 5

A COMPENSATION CASE.

£SOO DAMAGES.(Per Press Association!) ii ;..\ Wellington, April 11. ; ! Judgment -in a compensation case! heard by the Arbitration Court, at .Napier, has been filed by Mr. Justice Si.n. 'J lie plaintiff was Grace Holland, widow of feicrart Holland, and tlie defendants were Richardson and Co. tfievert Holland, who was master ol tire lighter Moa, owned by Richardson and Co., was accidentally drowned at Port Ahuriri, on July 27, 1911. The lighter was lying alongside the wharf at Port Ahuriri on July 28, and it was part of deceased's duty to inspect the lighter's moorings each night. This he usually did shortly before going to bed. Plaintiff alleged that the deceased met his deatu while doing his duty, and that tiie accident arose out of his employment. Evidence showed that the deceased left the steamer Ruru between midnight and 1 o'clock on July 27, and went along in the direction of the Moa. He had said he was go:ng home. On July 31 hie body was found within a few yards of the'spot where the Moa was lying on July 2(1. Mr. Justice Sim said that it was admitted that the drowning was accidental, and if the facts justify such' an inference the Court was entitled to conclude that the accident arose out of and in the course of deceased's employment, although no human being was present who could gve direct evidence bow the accident happened, Deceased intonde to visit the lighter' on his way home, and the Court inferred that deceased reached thje'sceiie of his duty and fellin while doing something in connection with the Tifhter. Judgment was given for plaitttilf for £SOO, £2 12s costs, and disbursements and witnesses 'expenses, the widow to get £IOO for her own use, and the balance to be paid into the Court and await a further order of the Court.