CANTERBURY,

Otago Witness, Issue 2660, 8 March 1905, Page 67

CANTERBURY,

The Supreme Court was -occupied two days .at Chn=tchurch with the ca=e John Donaldson v. the N^w Zealand Shipping Co., a claim for £SCO. damages for injuries received by plaintiff through being struck by a bale of wool while engaged in the hold of the steamer Waimate on June 11. The plaintiff recehed injuries to the right leg about the kneo and hip joints, and the"^ medical evidence showed that the knee would probably never be really strong again, and plaintiff's value a^ a wharf" labourer would be impaired The jyiy found the company was guilt}- of neghgonco in having insufficient hatches off, and ha\ ing tho derrick not plumb with the hatchway opening, and awarded plaintiff £300.

With a view to further adding to the popularity of the port and enlarging its trade, the Timaru Harbour Board, at its meeting- on Friday, decided io reduce the rate of wharfage for icoi.cn ni^at to Is &d per ton, instead of i-d per carcase, as at present.

The South Canterbury Hospital Boards passed a resolution on the 21&t agreeing to support the Southland Board in the attempt to get legis'ation giving hospita' boards first claim under ordinary circumstances on accident insurance due to patieLts. It was mentioned lhat such legislation was wanted: chiefly on account of single men. who can but will not pay, and that if the boards had the power suggested they would not exercise it when it was likely to inflict; hardship.

At the Ashburton S.M. Court Samuel Alexander, a bcar<Xnghou=e-keeper, was? fined £50 for keoping and exposing liquor for sale. The defending solicitor aigued that as Alexander's previous conviotion was for illegally selling liquor this was uot a second conviction, and would not therefore carry the penalty of imprisonment. The magistrate took the same view, and imposed a fine of £50, and gave accused a week to pay the fine- in. Thomas Sutherland, refreshment rooms proprietor, pleaded '" Not guilty" to a charge of keeping alcoholio liquor for sale. After hearing the evidence, his Worship reserved judgment. In the Divorce Com-t on the Ist decrees nisi were granted in the cases of Catherine Wilson v. James Wilson, on the ground of failure to maintain, and in Margaret M'Robis v. David M'Robie, for desertion since 1879. The latter parties were married here in January. 1862.

At the Supreme Court on Thxtrsday W. J. Laroonibe, a labom-er. recovered £150 damages from the Union Steam Slhip Company for injuries received by a bag of nbosphates falling upon him whilst working on the Moeraki in August last. At the Ashburton S.M. Court Capt. Wray, S.M., gave judgment in tho case against Thomas Sutherland for the alleged keeping: of liquor for sale. The magistrate dismissed tho case, as the accused had given evidence which, if true, explained the facts alleged by the police. There was corroborative evidence, and he had come to the conclusion) that the case did not warrant a conviction.

The Timaru SLM. gave his decision on, Monday re tho allocation of tlip cost/ of erecting an infectious diseases hospital 1 at Timaru. The amount required i« est'mated at £700. as £1400 is already in hand from the sale of a reserve. The Health Department proposed to throw the co«t on all South Canterbury on a population basis, as the population dwindles with distance and reduced usefulness of the institution. The magistrate takes the copulation basis, and makes a deduction of one-tenth from, Wai mate County and Borough and G^raldine- Borough, and one-fifth from Mackenzie County and Mount Pee! road district, Ojnc' add* the deductions — Five-sixths to" Timaru Borough. one-sixth to Levels County. Timaru Borough pays two-sevenths of the whole. On an even capital basis its share would be one-tenth.