CARGO PILLAGING.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 October 1918, Page 4

CARGO PILLAGING.

QUESTION OF SHIPPING COMPANY'S LIABILITY. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Mr. Riddeli, S.M., delivered reserved judgment to-day in the case affecting the liability of shipping companies. Laery Beveridge & ojr. proceeded against the New Zealand Shipping Company to recover £1 0s Bd, damages alleged to be suffered through defendants' failure to deliver three bottles of brandy in accordance with the contract in the bill of lading. Under the bill, 75 cases were shipped in apparently good order at London for delivery to plaintiff at Wellington. The cases were discharged at Wellington in apparent good order, nothing in their external appearance indicating that they had been pillaged. One bottle of brandy was missing from one case and two from another. Plaintiffs submitted the bill of lading was conclusive against defendants.

[ Mr. Kiddell said that as the cases bore no external marks of haying been tampered with, and the deficiency of weight not being apparent at the port of shipment, there could have been no negligence on the part of defendants in receiving the cases and signing the bill of lading in the form produced. The endorsement that the ship was not responsible for tho quantity of the contents would not relieve shipowners from Inability if negligence on their part had been proved in connection with the condition or quantity of the good's when shipped. He thought defendants were entitled to judgment.