LAW QUERIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3954, 24 December 1929, Page 46

LAW QUERIES.

(Answered by a solicitor of th* Supreme Court of New Zealand. Letters and Telegrams must be Mldrsssed to * LEX.*' e/o Ml tor, Otago Wltaees, Dunedin.] “Builder” asks: “One of my employees had had an accident. Am I liable for doctor’s expenses incurred in connection with the accident? ” You are liable for medical expenses to the extent of £l. “Farmer” asks: “A owns a field of wheat.' B's sheep break through and destroy it. The dividing fence is not a regulation one. the land not having been used for sheep for many years previously. Can A claim compensa-

tion? No. The fence must first be made a “sufficient” fence within the meaning of the Fencing Act. “Inquirer” asks: “I am travelling along a straight piece of road at approximately 40 miles an hour. A farmer who is riding along a side road allows his dog to wander along some chains ahead of him on to the main road, out of his sight.- Th 6 dog wanders across the road in front of me and is killed by my car. Not seeing anyone about, I do not stop. Has. the owner of the dog a claim against me? No, providing you were not exceeding the speed limit fixed by law. “Curious” asks: “What is the position where a large tree stands on the dividing line between two sections, half the tree being on each section? The branches overhang both properties on either side. (1) Could one owner cut down the tree? (2) Could one owner lop all the branches off the tree? ” (1) One owner could cut down the part of the tree (including the roots) on his land. (2) Each owner could lop off the branches overhanging his property.