WHEAT ON FIRE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12070, 27 July 1917, Page 6

WHEAT ON FIRE.

TUDGMENT IN KING v. GEE CASE. DEFENDANT WINS CASE. At the Magistrate's Court to-day Mr Wyvern Wilson, S.M., gave judgment in the claim of Isabella King and Robert King versus Walter Gee, heard at Ambcrley. for £O2 6s 9d damages for neglect in tho management of a traction engine, whereby certain hags of wheat and other produce became ignited. The defendant counter-claimed for £B2 os lid for threshing. The plaintiff, a farmer at Glenmark, had engaged the defendant to thresh his crop, and the engine, in passing through a stubble paddock, had thrown sparks which ignited a crop. The Magistrate found that;the engine, an old one. not fitted with a spark arrester, had caused the lire. It was tho defendant's duty to bring to the job a plant fit to do the work, and prima, facie the owner of a traction engine was liable if sparks set liro to a crop. In this case, however, the plaintiff had knowledge of the defect of the engine, and knew that it was likely to cause a fire, and it had been driven through the stubble paddock on his advice. The driver had leave and license to take that course, and could not be charged with negligence. Judgment would be given for the defendant on claim and counter-claim with costs.

At the hearing Mr' Harper appeared for the plaintiff and Mr Cassidy for the defendant. .