[PRESS ASSOCIATION.] DAMAGES AGAINST A TRAMWAY COMPANY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 119, 16 November 1909, Page 3

[PRESS ASSOCIATION.] DAMAGES AGAINST A TRAMWAY COMPANY.

NEW TRIAL REFUSED. AUCKLAND, 15th November. _ Judgment was delivered by Mr Justice Edwards to-day on an application of the Auckland Electric Tramways Company for a new trial in the case in which Samuel Horsnell was awarded £700 damages against the company for tho death of his wife, caused while tiavelling on one of the defendant company's tvamcars. His Honour stated that in all cases where the damages could not be accurately assessed, as in the present case, the rule was that the verdict of the jury could nos be interfered with unless it was shown to the satisfaction of the court that the damages wer9 so large that no twelve sensible men could reasonably have given them, and he was unable tr> come to that conclusion in this instance. The motion for a new triaJ must, therefore, be dismissed with £10 10s costs. By consent, execution was stayed until Friday in order to allow of notice of appeal being given.

A "BLACK MARIA" COLLAPSES. CHRISTCHURCH, 15th Nov. While a police van was .conveying a load of prisoners from the Supreme Court to the railway station to-night a wheel collapsed, and the occupants of the van were thrown out. One of the prisoners, George Allan, received severe injuries to his head and back, and was taken to the hospital in a semi-conscious condition. HOSPITALS BILL— A PROTEST. CHRISTCHURCH, 15th Nov. The City Council decided to protest against several provisions of the Hospital and Charitable Institutions Bill, and agreed to motions asking Christchurch members of Parliament to supply copies of the proposed scale of subsidies for the council's consideration before the Bill was proceeded with ; requesting that the Ashburton and North Canterbury Charitable Aid District remain as it was under the Act of 1885; and protesting against any proposal to divide the Twigger and Moule bequests between North Canterbury and Ashburton districts. . A deputation consisting of the Mayor and Councillor Parsons was appointed to go to Wellington to further these resolutions. OBJECTION TO PRIMAGE DUTY. OAMARU, 15th November. The Chamber of Commerce passed a resolution to-day protesting against tha primage Customs duty, on the ground that the whole tax would fall upon the retailers, who could not make the addition to the value of their goods, although they would have to pay the duty when they bought in bulk in New Zealand or imported. CHILD INJURED BY A MOTOR. I CHRISTCHURCH, 15th Nov. Iris Marion Jackson, eight years of age, was knocked over by Dr. Sandstein's motor car to-night, and somewhat severely injured. TARANAKI PETROLEUM COMPANY. NEW PLYMOUTH, 15th Nov. At the annual meeting of the Taranaki Petroleum Company to-day, the report snd balance-sheet were adopted after a lively discussion. The meeting adjourned till 24th January for the election of new directors. THE BLANK CHEQUE TROUBLE. CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. Quite a number of forgery charges came before the Supreme Court to-day, and in the majority the circumstances allee;ed. were similar, the obtaining and filling up of a blank cheque- and cashing of the same at some retail establishment. "The ease with which a man can get a blank cheque," declared his Honour, "and the disgraceful ease with which he can get a cheque cashed, are leading to a large increase in forgery cases. Forgery now seems to be treated as a first resource on the part of those who are hard up."