TWO COMPENSATION CLAIMS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 95, 21 April 1923, Page 6

TWO COMPENSATION CLAIMS.

WAS HE HURT 1 ( TOMAHAWK STORY DISPUTED. A half-caste Maori kauri-gum climber, named Frederick J. Diamond, who has given an exhibition of tree climbing before Lord Jellicoe and Sir Francis Bell, was plaintiff in a compensation claim heard by the Arbitration Court yesterday afternoon. The claim was a sequel to an accident which befell Diamond (Mr. Sellar) while working in the bush at Waitakere. He alleged that while up a big kauri, "bleeding" it for gum, a blow with his tomahawk glanced off a limb of the tree on to his fingers, chopping off two of them. His contention was that the mishap occurred while he was working for Arthur P. Bro.vne (Mr. Lennard), from whom he claimed £139. The defence was that the accident happened while Diamond yvus chipping gum on the ground for himself. riaintiff said that after tbe accident he had to descend from the tree by means of one hand, and he illustrated in court bow he managed with one hand, to coil and tie up the rope he used. Decision was reserved. LOSS OF A LEG. Decision was also reserY-ed in the case in which Thomas John Harkins (Mr. Holmden) claimed additional compensation for the loss of a leg. from William Wood and Company (Mr. Richmond), timber mill proprietors, Dargaville. Plaintiff's case was that bis limb was amputated as a result of an accident in March, 1921, hut the defendants contended it YY-as the result of an accident in February, which was a month before the amendment of the Act increasing the compensation. They further alleged that there was no second accident.