FLAX DESTROYED BY FIRE
JURY EMPANELLED TO t ASSESS DAMAGES (THE PRESS Special Service.] WELLINGTON, August 22. A jury of 12 was empanelled in the Supreme Court to-day, before the Chief Justice (the Rt. Hon. Sir Michael Myers) to assess the damages for which Sir Kenneth Douglas is liable to Percy Higginbottom and others, for a fire which destroyed 300 acres of flax on adjoining property at Mungaroa. The case is set down for two days. In the Supreme Court last year a claim was made for £SOOO. and the jury, 'finding that the damage was caused by the spread of. a fire lit by Sir Kenneth, awarded £2750. Mr Jus-tice-Blair ordered a new trial on the grounds that the damages awarded were excessive. The case went to the Court of Appeal on an appeal and cross appeal against points in the judgment awarding a new trial; The Court of Appeal was satisfied that Sir Kenneth had been negligent, but, awarded a new trial to be limited to the question of damages. Evidence is being heard.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19390823.2.15
Bibliographic details
Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22796, 23 August 1939, Page 3
Word Count
176FLAX DESTROYED BY FIRE Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22796, 23 August 1939, Page 3
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Press. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Acknowledgements
This newspaper was digitised in partnership with Christchurch City Libraries.
Log in