THE STAR OF CANADA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15175, 14 December 1912, Page 8

THE STAR OF CANADA.

SALVAGE CLAIM DECIDED.

PLAINTIFFS AWARDED £4963.

[BY TELEGRAPH. PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Wellington, Friday. At the Supreme Court , to-day, His Honor Mr. Justice Chapman delivered judgment in the Star of Canada salvage action. Evidence in the case was heard at Gisborne, occupying five days of long <V sittings. The Tyser Line, Limited, and John Mann Hart, master of the steamer Star of Canada, were the plaintiffs, and the Gisborne Sheep Farmers' Frozen Meat Company, Ltd., the defendants. The claim was for £$824 and interest, the amount of alleged overcharge for lightering in connection witH the salvaging of frozen meat from the stranded steamer. The total amount paid for lighterage was £8363, and plaintiffs claimed that the amount, according to the Gisborne rates, should have been £2538. The defence set up that the charges were fair considering the nature of the work, the men receiving up to 4s per hour, and that the charges were practically agreed to. His Honor reviewed at length the facts and law of the case, and decided that the defendant company was entitled to £3400 for tho work of lightering and generally salvaging the cargo. In assessing this amount, His Honour had considered the interest accruing on tho larger sum paid. Judgment would be for plaintiffs for £4963 19s 6d, with costs according to scale on that sum, witnesses' expenses and disbursements to be fixed by the registrar, as well as allowances for extra days and second counsel.