PENGUIN WRECK.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 600, 31 August 1909, Page 9

PENGUIN WRECK.

; COMPENSATION/CASES. RELATIVES OF LATE. OFFICERS.' The Arbitration Court (his Honour Mr.' Justice Sim, president, and Mr. J. A. M'Cullough, workers' representative) heard yesterday a series: of claims under tho Workers' Compensation Acl against the Union Steam Ship Company, arising out of the wrcck of the s.s. Panguin in February last. Tho claims wero made bv or on bohaJf Of relatives of certain of tho company's employees .who had suffered death as a consequence of the wrcck. , . ' •_, Tho respondent company was represented in all eases by Mr. Levi, who admitted t!ie liability to pay compensation, the amounts only,being in question. His Honour said tho Court would hear the parties and give its decision when tho Court was again fully constituted by the appointment of an employers' representative. The-first claim was made for tho widow of Albert Goof-go' Lusemoro, third officer. Tho company admitted liability up to £500, and agreed to pay tho sum to i the Public Trustee on behalf of tho widow. The claimant was represented b* Mr. Treadwell. • Ten guineas costs were allowed.

The death . of. Walter Stanley Rentoul, second engineer of tho Penguin, was'the occasion of claims by Lucy Ronton! (mother of the deceased), Walter Rentoul (father), and John A. Rentoul (an invalid brother;, all of Nelson. Mr, Trcadwell appeared for the. claimants. Mr. Treadffell read tho. evidence -given by claimants at Nclsnn, and argued that all were partial dependents in terms of the Act. ■ Tho claim was for £135, and this being admittod by respondents, li-is Honour s?.id the Court would bp prepared ■to make an order for that amount. Respondents wero ordered to pay seven guineas costs. . , ' The Public Trustee, as executor for Francis James Driocoll, second officer, drowned !n the Penguin wreck, claimed compensation on behalf of Isabella Driscollj mother of tho debased. Mr. Treadwell appeaml for tlio claimant, and Mr. Levi for the Union S.S.. 'Company. Isabella \Driscoll. gave evideuco as to tho earnings of. deceased as an officer on the Penguin and other vessels, and her receipts from him and other children. Mr. Levi agreed to a claim of £207. Costs as ; in tho last cac-o were allowed. ' Ann Ohisholm,- : of 'Onga Onga, Hawke's ißay; claimed compensation. {to,'a. ..partial, dppendent of her late "daughter; Mrs. -'>Annio Hope, ■ stewardess' of the Penguin. . Mr.'Fitzgibbon appsaredfor tie claimant, and called ovidence. Tho,claim was 'baaed on; receipts from deceased of £24 a year, making £72. This was admitted by the respondents. A claim for £20 funeral expenses was waived pn the understanding that tho. company would.pay such expenses up to a reasonable amount if not already, paid. . . ' , Further compensation cases were adjourned until Thursday'next, at 10.30 a.m.