SPREAD OF A FIRE.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 June 1920, Page 4

SPREAD OF A FIRE.

DAMAGES NEIGHBOR'S FARM. By Telenraph.—rress Association. Chriatchurch, list Night A claim for damages allegedly caused by the spread of a grass fire from one farm to another was concluded before Mr. Justice Herdman and a special jury. Louis Henry Maddison, of Scargill, sheepfarmer, proceeded against Archibald Ershmann, of Hurunui, sheep-farmer, to recover the sum of £1076 19s 64 damages. The statement of claim set out that on August 11th, Ipm, defendant, by his agent or servants, caused a fire to be lit on property belonging to defendant at Hurunui, adjoining the 1 north-west boundary of land belonging to plaintiff. Jhe fire, plaintiff alleged, spread to the adjoining land belonging to him, and caused damagtf to his property by burning gras9 and tussock thereon over an are.i of 1850 acres, burning to death five sheep, and by damaging plai: tiff's fencing. Further, that as a result of the fire the plaintiff alleged that he had been compelled to sell 026 ewes from his flock, and was deprived of the profit of the wool and lambs therefrom. In conse- * quence, also, he was conpelled to remove '• 513 ewes from that portion of the farm which had been burned, and grase them on other lands which he was keeping for fattening purposes. Lastly, on account of being forced to sell 620 ewes, plaintitl was deprived of lambs therefrom, and the flock was rendered less valuable to him. Defendant denied that the fire started on his property, but spread to it and damaged his property, and that of others.

The jury awarded plaintiff £756 10s lOd and costs.