INTERESTING CLAIM

Stratford Evening Post, Volume I, Issue 78, 11 March 1931, Page 5

INTERESTING CLAIM

FIRE IN 'QUAKE ZONE. JUDGMENT FOR COMPANY. WELLINGTON, March 10. An interesting ease, in view of the questions raised on tlie result oi: the Hawko's Lay earthquake regarding payments by insurance companies to policy holders whose property was destroyed by fire, came before Mr Justice Blair 10-day. The action arose from a fire which destroyed a ten-roomed wooden house occupied by Mr James Grant Duncan, farmer, Karamea, after the 'quake on the West Coast on June 17, 1929, the claim being made under an alleged policy against the Norwich Union Fire Insurance Society. The amount involved is £BOO. Defendants deny that there is any liability, as the 'quake was a contributing cause of the fire. His Honour ruled that the fire was the result of the earthquakes, but that the policy did not provide for this risk, and he gave judginent for the defendant company.