A WATERSIDER'S INJURIES
CLAIM FOR DAMAGES.
A watersider named Victor Owler took legal action against the Huddart-Parker Steam Ship Company, Ltd., at the Magistrate's Court yesterday aiternoon, to obtain damages in respect to injuries sustained by him while employed by the defendant company. _ _ : _ In his statement of claim, plaintiff set out that on 25th July, 1918, he was employed as a coal trimmer on the steamship Ulima.roa at Wellington; and that while he was' descending to his work in the bunkers by means of a ventilator he was injured by being struck on the head and shoulders by a mass of coal which fell from above, and as a result was totally disabled from undertaking work of any kind until Bth October last, and still endured pain and suffering. Plaintiff held that the accident was contributed to by the negligence of the defendant company's servants in failing to cover the ventilator top with a grating. He therefore claimed the sum of £84 Os lOd, made up of eleven weeks' wages at £4 11s 8d per week, less £20 12s 6d already paid as compensation (£29 16s lOd), hospital expenses amounting to £4 4s, and £50 general damages. The matter was before the Court on a previous occasion,. but plaintiff was then non-suited, on the grounds that he had been guilty of contributory negligence in not lowering the grating on to the top of the ventilator shaft as he descended. Mr. P. J. O'Regan, in addressing the Bench, said that since the original hearing additional evidence had been found, which would show that it was not possible for plaintiff to lower the grating himself, as it was at that time lashed back in position.
Evidence was then, called on the lines of counsel's address, and also to the: effect that the faulty erection of the' tramway carrying tho coal baskets from the hulk to- the vessel caused the coal' to reach the vessel's side prematurely. Further evidence will- be heard on Thursday, 26th June. Mr. A. W» Blair ia appearing for th.c defence.. . j
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Bibliographic details
Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 142, 18 June 1919, Page 5
Word Count
343A WATERSIDER'S INJURIES Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 142, 18 June 1919, Page 5
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