MAORI “SAMSON”

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 February 1932, Page 6

MAORI “SAMSON”

THICK SKULL SAVES LIFE. [SPECIAL TO “STAB.”] AUCKLAND, February 13. A claim for £lOOO general damages, and £251/19/- special damages, was made by a Maori labourer, Moa Pirimona, against a motor mechanic, Archibald Reuben George Brunton, in the Supreme Court, yesterday. The case, which was heard before Justice Herdman and a jury, was the outcome of an accident in the Karangahape- Road on July 1, 1931, when plaintiff was knocked down by a. motor cycle, ridden by defendant. One of the plaintiff’s fellow workers said that before he was injured, plaintiff was a very strong man. He had been known to carry at the same time, two sacks of coal, each weighing about 18G lbs (one under each arm), and Pirimoana was always first pick when wood or coal had to he carried.

One witness remarked that plaintiff smelt of liquor, but the latter stated that while his favou'rite drink was four half-handles daily, he had none on the day of the. accident. Dr Eisdell Moore -said the fact that plaintiff was a Maori with a thick skull saved his life. Plaintiff would never be able to carry with his injured arm a. sack of coal weighing ISGlbs. He would be able to carry that weight with the other arm, however.

“Had he been able to do so in the past, he must be a Samson,” commented the Judge. Another witness described plaintiff as “The Strong Man of Mount Eden.”

The jury found that both parties were negligent, but that defendant’s negligence was the real cause of the accident.

Plaintiff was awarded £230/3/6 special damages, and £l5O general damages. His Honour reserved decision on an application for a new trial.