WOMAN'S FINE DRESSES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18762, 16 July 1924, Page 12

WOMAN'S FINE DRESSES

TRUNKS LEFT IN STORAGE.

SOLD TO PAY EXPENSES.

CLAIM FOR £200 DAMAGES.

A claim against a firm of carriers for damages in connection with the storage of goods came before the Nelson Magistrate's Court last Friday. Elizabeth and Arthur Collins (mother and son), sought to recover from Grant Bros, the sum of £200. The evidence showed that defendants in 1914 received through carrying firms a number of boxes, trunks, etc., from Christchurch and Auckland containing the personal belongings of Dr. and Mrs. Collins, who went to reside in Nelson. The doctor subsequently died in the Nelson district. After unsuccessfully endeavouring to get in touch with Mrs. Collins after she left Nelson, defendants caused the goods to be sold by auction in 1918, the sum realised being about £12. In 1923 Mrs. Collins wrote to defendants about the goods and received a reply that they had been sold to pay expenses. A list of 111 items was gone through seriatim in order to arrive at their value. The list contained silver, a fur coat valued at £16, an inlaid table £35,* house and table linen, an Eastern gown £50, sealskin coat £50, sea peai-1 necklace stated to be 200 years old, silk and satin dresses and various other articles. Many of the listed articles were stated to be family heirlooms. The female plaintiff usually described most of the articles to be an good as new, although in a number of instances they were over 12 years old. She said she had never removed any of the articles while they were in store, except a few small things. "Lady's silk velvet tea gown ?" queried Mr. Moynagh, counsel for defendants, reading from the list. Witness : Oh yes; that has been hardly worn. It is valued at £10.

Counsel: Fashions change.—Oh yes. but silk gowns you can undo and make them up again. "Twenty-two yards of material in it," interjected the magistrate. • Counsel: "Like the Holy Coat of Treves."

Witness to Counsel: I don't know whether you are married; but ask your wife how many yards it takes to make a tea gown. An Eastern gown, £50, was another item.

Counsel: A glorified kimona ? Witness: It is a magnificent gown. Counsel: Is not a kimona a glorified gown ? —Good gracious, no. . The Magistrate: Was it as good as new ? —Yes. " You Men Are Silly." A Cashmere gown came under discussion, and witness said it was a very good one. Counsel: How do you know ?—I went to a garden party in it and it was greatly admired. After giving the Court information relating to underskirts, nightdresses, and satin skirts, etc., witness said sho would astound counsel by the next item, a white silk dress, which cost £1 a yard. Counsel: I don't think you will. The Magistrate: How many yards to a dress ? Witness: Sixteen or eighteen. An Indian Paisley shawl, valued at £10, and a marble ornament described as a family heirloom, were passed over without much comment. Then came a treble bed counterpane. The Magistrate: Treble bed ? Witness: Don't you know what a treblebed counterpane is ? The Magistrate: Well, we need not go into that ? Witness: You men are silly ? Silk stockings of " beautiful solid silk," which were worn at a fancy dress ball; lace handkerchiefs and various other items concluded the "little list." The Magistrate (heaving a sigh of relief): We have finished the list! Evidence of Auctioneer. AJfred Gould, auctioneer, called by Mr. Ache3on, said he sold a quantity of unclaimed luggage in 1918 under instructions from defendants. There were half-a-dozen or so trunks and boxes. The sale realised £12 3s. Before selling the contents he went over them and picked out what he considered the more valuable articles and sold them separately. The contents did not include such articles as a pearl necklace, Eastern gown, or a lady's silk velvet tea gown. If such valuable articles had been included ho would have specially advertised the fact. Mr. Acheson: What we say is that the boxes had been opened before going to the sale and the things stolen. W. Grant said his firm had received the luggage as agents for the New Zealand Express Company. He had to pay freight and charges, totalling about £12. Both Dr. and Mrs. Collins frequently came to the store-room and took articles away out of the boxes. The storage charges and freight amounted to about £43, which waß still unpaid. Owing to the store being congested during the war, and as he could not get in touch with Mrs. Collins he decided to clear the things out. He remembered a sealskin coat which was all moth-eaten. The goods he considered saleable he sent to auction and the remainder were sent to the tip-head. _ The Magistrate: It is an extraordinary case. , ~.,.•• The magistrate reserved his decision.