CARTAGE CHARGES

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 43, 13 May 1927, Page 10

CARTAGE CHARGES

RIGHTS OF CARRIERS OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES (From Our Own Correspondent.) HAWERA, To-day. An interesting case was heard in the Hawera Court in relation to expressmen and their chances of recovering out-of-pocket expenses in connection with the transport of luggage. A lady left Gisborne for Hawera in September last. She booked the luggage through an express company, or agents, for Hawera. Upon her arrival she found the goods had not arrived. Investigations proved that the luggage had been shipped to Wellington per s.s. Opua, which was subsequently wrecked at Wellington Heads. At first it was thought that there was no chance of recovery, but later it wafe discovered that the goods were intact and they were railed to Hawera in due course. Janies Bartlett, carrier, took possession and delivered them to the owner.

When asked what the charges would be he' said he could not tell until the arrival of the waybills. However, when the waybills came to hand it was found that the charges amounted to £3 4s 9d, which he paid out of his own pocket. Defendant, however, expressed surprise and refused to pay such an amount. Counsel for the defence maintained that there had been no contract, and the goods had been put on the verandah without mention of such a high charge. The magistrate held the plaintiff had paid the amount in question and gave judgment for the sum claimed with costs £1 14s.