BOY'S LOSS OF SIGHT.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 June 1920, Page 5

BOY'S LOSS OF SIGHT.

AN ACCIDENT AT SCHOOL. CLAIM AGAINST THE BOARD. By Telegraph-—Press Association, Christchurch, Last Night. An interesting case opened at the Supreme Court to-day before Mr. Justice Herdman and a jury of twelve. It is a claim for £IOOO damages for the loss of the sight of an eye by H. M. TJrquhart, fifteen years of age, who is proceeding against the Ashburton High Schol Board, through his guardian. The statement of plaintiff's case alleges that on June 2, 1019, an explosion occurred during an experiment in a class room. The master was preparing a mixture from bottles taken from the school laboratory, and owing to his negligence, and that of some other servant of the Board, a wrong chemical was used, owing to a bottle being incorrectly labelled. The 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 control of the Minister of Education, and ia for the public benefit and not for private gain. The sole duty owing to the plaintiff was to prove that the master was a competent teacher of chemistry, and this had been done.

The 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 the plaintiff £BOO and costs. Consideration of a non-suit point «vas reserved.