Local and General News

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIV, Issue 21053, 3 June 1938, Page 8

Local and General News

Liability Accepted Liability for the payment of wharfage due on citrus fruit and bananas landed at Lyttelton has been accepted by the Government, according to advice received by the secretary of the Lyttelton Harbour Board (Mr C. H. Clibborn) from the Internal Marketing Department. Onions to be Imported Acting on the recommendation of the Onion Marketing Advisory Committee, which has made a careful analysis of the stock position, the Government has decided to allow the importation of onions from Northern Hemisphere countries on vessels arriving at New Zealand ports between October 5 and November 30. Importations will be subject to permits by the Minister of Customs. Opposition Caucus The caucus of Opposition members in the House of Representatives was concluded last evening. The Hon. Adam Hamilton subsequently stated that the Opposition members on the Special Parliamentary Committee which examined the Government’s social security proposals—the Hon. J. G. Cobbe (Oroua), Mr S. G. Holland (Christchurch North) and Mr H. S. S. Kyle (Riccarton)— had reported to the caucus on these proposals. Lorry Overturns A motor lorry owned by Cordials, Ltd,. Timaru, and driven by Charles Henry Ford, overturned on Wednesday evening about 8.30 at the Waimate end of the Gorge. The vehicle, which was laden with crates of bottles, was considerably damaged, but the driver and a passenger escaped serious injury. It is thought that Mr Ford suffered a dislocated shoulder, but both men were able to walk from the scene of the accident to Waimate, whence they proceeded to Timaru. Presentation to Dr. Unwin In connection with the presentation to Dr. W. H. Unwin in the Bay Hall to-night, the committee advises that as it is the late shopping night in town, community singing under the leadership of Mr J Duncan will be held in the early part of the evening. This will give all those wishing to be present an opportunity, of attending the function. The speeches in the second part of the evening will be interspersed with musical items. The committee cordially invite ladies to attend the function. The speakers who will be associated with the Mayor will be Mr G. S. Cray, Dr. J. Campbell McKenzie, Archdeacon H. W. Monaghan, and Messrs E. Macdonald, F. J. Rolleston and W. Thomas. Improper Treatment Alleged After deliberations lasting the full four hours, a jury at Palmerston North awarded damages, £4OO general and £172 special, to Mrs Olive -Rita Paterson against Dr. Kenrick Dean, for alleged improper treatment of an injured knee. Mr Justice Quilliam granted counsel for the defence leave to apply for a new trial on the ground that the verdict was against the weight of evidence. In his address to the jury, Mr Justice Quilliam suggested that there was a preponderance of evidence in favour of the view that the disability Mrs Paterson was now suffering was a result of the injury and not the treatment. Dr. Dean had done a very wise thing. He saw that the case was not responding so called in a surgeon. Some doctors felt diffident about calling in another. His Honour also directed attention to the medical evidence that the injury was a rare one, so one might expect it not to be correctly diagnosed the first time. There was also a preponderance of medical evidence that Mrs Paterson would completely recover. Damages Awarded Damages amounting to £lOl9/3/6 were awarded by a jury in the Supreme Court, Wellington, in the case brought by Charles Thomas Holden, labourer, against Kenneth Daniel Melvin, engineer. The action arose from the death of plaintiff’s son from injuries received in a collision between a motor cycle he was riding and a van driven by the defendant. Each side alleged negligence against each other and denied being negligent itself. The plaintiff claimed £5OOO for pain and suffering and the shortened expectation of life of his son, £l9/3/6 hospital and funeral expenses, and £5OO for the loss of financial assistance he would have received from his son had the latter lived. After a retirement of two hours, during which they visited the scene of the accident, the jury returned with a verdict for the plaintiff. They found the defendant guilty of negligence materially contributing to the accident in that he failed to keep a proper look-out and cut the comer in an unsafe manner. In answer to a further question as to whether the plaintiff was guilty of any negligence materially contributing to the accident, they replied in the negative. St. Michael’s Badminton Club At the opening of the St. Michael’s Badminton Club the Mayoress, Mrs W. G. Tweedy, declared the new court open by hitting over the net the first shuttlecock, which was returned by the patron of the club, the Rev. Nelson Wright. In declaring the court open, Mrs Tweedy congratulated the club on its enterprise, and stated that with the increased leisure possible at the present time, such pastimes would play a useful part in the life of the community. Mr Wright endorsed Mrs Tweedy’s remarks and said he hoped that with a growing membership better facilities for the club could be provided. The president, Mr F. Chapman, welcomed those present and said that tile applications for membership had more than exceeded expectations. Members of the Timaru Club— Messrs Milliken, Lewis and Pateman—-then gave a demonstration game, with commentary and explanation of the rules of play. At a general meeting of the club, Mr R. McNair was elected secretary. It was agreed to defer consideration of the constitution until a later date. The committee elected comprised Misses S. Morgan, M. Jacobsen, L. Currie, Mrs F. Chapman, and Messrs J. B. Wilson, R. McNair, H. Washbourn and F. Chapman.