SWAMP SET ON FIRE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 218, 15 September 1925, Page 12

SWAMP SET ON FIRE.

■ t — AREA OF FLAX BURNED. DAMAGES AGAINST CROWN. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent J*s • HAMILTON, this day. -^ . A claim for £500 was brought in hike Hamilton Supreme Court to-day, befofe his' Honor, Mr. Justice Herd-man, by John Francis Strange, farmer, of Te Arofia, against the Crown, for damages allege&y -caused by the burning of an area of fhix, • owing to operations of the Public Works Department. Mr. E. H. Northcroft (Auckland), had with him Mr. Gilchrist, appeared for plaintiff, and Mr. If. 1. Gillies for the Crown. According to the statement of claim the Public Works Department workmen who were engaged in the erection,of a stopbank for, and adjoining the Waihou River at Waitoa, set fire to certain vegetation upon the line of the embankment. The flames spread to plaintiff's property, completely destroyed an area of 27$ acres of fully matured flax ready for cutting, arid also the roots, so that the same will bear no further crop. The crop was estimated to produce 25 tons to the acre, 687. tons in all, at ii royalty price of 8/ per ton, giving a total value of £275. Plaintiff also assessed the damage to the roots at £225. His Honor said he must reject the evidence, of the Crown and accept that given on behalf of petitioner. He did not consider the claim excessive, and gave judgment for the full arnbunt, with ebsts. t'.v