The Wairarapa Daily FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 1889. Safe Roads.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 3272, 2 August 1889, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 1889. Safe Roads.

The verdict given yesterday in the B,M. Court, Masterton, ii) the cage of Bellis v, North Wairarapa County is a sort of double caution. Local bodies must take heed to the warning given that they are legally responsible for the proper and safe condition ofroads under their contraband suitors on the other hand who suffer from their negligence must be careful not to burn their fingers by pressing ill advised claims for damages. Mr Beljia will, we fancy, be .extremely dissatisfied to get forty shillings for a suit which involves ton times that amount in loss of timo and travelling expenses, Ho may have the satisfaction of knowing that he lias taught public bodies a lesson, but this gratification will hardly compensate him for his private sacrifice. Going to law when an absolute proof of defiuite and substantial damages is uncertain, is not a prudent step, but it js evident that cases may arise wlifir.o thb negligence of local bodies may result in some palpable injury to an individual winch would entail very serious consequeuce iu the shape of damages, Wo have no fault to find in the verdict of the Court in the present case. The local body is very properly Jiajf} responsible for an act of omission, and jn the matter of compensation it is treated y/ith great moderation. Jt is .quite 'possible that Mr Bellis may sustain a loss very difficult to appraise at any pecuniary amount by the accident upon which his claim was based, arid much sympathy will probably be upon Ins behalf, The very fact, however, that f jje alleged injury to Mr'Bellis wag' of a .character difficult to estimate in pounds, shillings, and pence placed him at a disadvantage. The verdict is, we take it, the assertion of the principle that local todies are responsible for taking all reasonable precautions- to secure the safety of travelling public. It will, iiq doubt, do good from this point of view and may possibly even galvanise the Masterton Borough Council to take action to protect the public from the somewhat dangerous water channel which runs down Queen-street, hooper or later there will inevitably be a serious accident from this source of danger unless it be removed, The case Bellis v. the County nliould be a warning syen to the city fathers.