CLAIMS FOR COMPENSATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14585, 23 January 1911, Page 6

CLAIMS FOR COMPENSATION.

DAMAGE BY FLOODS.

Two claims arising out of the damage caused during the heavy floods on March 50 last were dealt with on Wednesday and Thursday List at Gumtown and Hikuai, respectively. The claims were for compensation for damage alloged to have been caused to the plaintiffs' properties by the operations of the Kauri Timber Company and the Ley-land-O'Brien Timber,.' Company, which companies were joined as defendants in both cases. Both eases were heard before Mr. F. J, Burgess, S.M., and two assesors, who were conducted over the properties in question.

The first case investigated was a claim for £550, mad© by W. B. Nicholson and George Hopkins, represented by Mr. Moore, under instructions from Messrs. Earl and Kent. The defendant companies were represented in this, as well as in the other cases, by Mr. Thos. Cotter. 'The . assessors were Messrs. Kavanagh and Wallace. The property is a farm of about 500 acres on the banks of the Kapowai Stream, near. Gumtown. After the property had been visited and a number of witnesses examined, the further hearing of that case was adjourned to Auckland. The party then travelled to Hikuai to investigate the claim for £967 9s 4d, brought against, the companies by Mrs. Mattie Laycock, wife of William Henry Laycock. The plaintiff was represented by Mr. Denniston, instructed by Mr. A. Hanna, the assessors being Messrs. Kavanagh and Patton. The property affected is a farm of about 280 acres on the banks of the Hikuai Stream, a branch of the Tairua River. On the property being visited, it appeared conclusive that tho plaintiffs' property was, in general with other properties in and around the locality, damaged by the general flood, and not. particularly by the operations of either of the defendant; companies. The plaintiff, therefore, withdrew tho claim, the companies having, paid into Court tho sum of £18 19s 4d, being the amount of the damage to fences, which they admit may possibly have been caused by their logs.