MISSING CIGARS.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13507, 29 August 1912, Page 6

MISSING CIGARS.

[United Press Association.]

Auckland, August 26

An action of interest to shippers and shipowners came before the Supremo Courtj this morning, u-Ji.cn Partridge and Co. claimed £130" from A. H. Nathan, Ltd., agents for the American and Australian Steamship Line, for the loss of a case of Havana cigars. The case was shipped by ono of tho A. and A. line of steamers,'and on being landed at Auckland was placed in a wharf shed, from whence it disappeared. The Harbour Board .accepted no responsibility for goods landed and placed in a .shed ; they aid not accept delivery of the goods.

Tho .Chief Justice s;:id ha could not understand hoiv tho i;:iithoi-it'!es of a pert liivO Auckland could allow such a primitive custom to regain. Apparently goods wcr:.- allow-r-d to bo dumped down on the wharf, and any one could go and cart then? away. If the Harbour Jio:- j-tl would not take- delivery of the goods the only thing merchants could do v/a>", to build sheds of their-oavii near thr^wliarf and store goecir- therein.

j\lr Cotter said that if there had been rcgloct it was on the part of the^ consignor in not informing the consignee that tho goods wero on the steamer. Both Partridge.and Co., and the agents or the steamer wore quite innocent in the matter. Both narties believed that f!is» e^no was frau-dulontlv taken from tlie whr.rf, and tho qucr.tion ivas vi'ho wi'.H going to bear tJie cost? Decision was reserved.