HOUSEKEEPER'S CLAIM

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 86, 12 April 1927, Page 6

HOUSEKEEPER'S CLAIM

AGADJST ESTATE OF EMPLOYER

(By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post.") AUCKLAND, 11th April. Lizzie Eunciman, a widow of Manku, claimed £1350 damages in the Supreme Court to-day against the estate of the late Samuel Elliott Pilgrim, a farmer, for whom she had acted as housekeeper since 1913 to the date of his death recently. _ She asserted that during the whole time she had received only £6- per year. Besides running the household, she milked cows and pulled turnips. She had received an offer of marriage from Pilgrim, which was declined, but. in -view of her services he promised to provide for her. Though-he left £3521 she had received only £,100. - ' Mr.- Justice Stringer said that ho did not think he would be justified in awarding damages oh the plaintiff's uncorroborated statement. Regarding the agreement between the parties he considered that it would be more satisfactory to assess the value of the plaintiff's work and reduce the claim to one for wages. ■ ■ ■ : ; After evidence had been given by two farmers, counsel for.the executors observed that when the plaintiff first wont to Pilgrim's her three ;daugh- ■ ters also lived there and received certain wages. : . . - Judgment was given for £400.