Hobbs v Petersham Transport Co Pty Ltd

124 CLR 220

(Judgment by: Owen J)

Between: Hobbs
And: Petersham Transport Co Pty Ltd

Court:
High Court of Australia

Judges: Barwick CJ
McTiernan J
Menzies J
Windeyer J

Owen J

Subject References:
Contract
Bailment
Carriage of goods
Due care
Failure to deliver
Onus of proof
Duty of bailee
Sub-contractor

Hearing date: 7 April 1971
Judgment date: 30 June 1971

Sydney


Judgment by:
Owen J

The facts and the relevant evidence are set out in the judgment of the Chief Justice, which I have had the advantage of reading. I agree with him that the evidence established that the non-delivery of the goods was not due to any negligence on the part of the carrier. The fact that the fracture of the axle was a "clean" and a "fresh" break seems to me to dispose of any suggestion that there may have been a pre-existing crack in it which might have been discovered before the vehicle was used for the carriage of the goods in question.

I would allow the appeal.

(1970) 92 W.N. (N.S.W.) 137

(1967) 117 CLR 448

(1968) 117 CLR 498

, at pp. 538-539

*1915* 1 KB 73 , at pp. 90-91

1923 S.C. (H.L.) 43, at p. 54

*1937* 1 KB 534 , at pp. 538-539

*1915* 1 KB 73

[1915] 1 K.B., at p. 97

[1915] 1 K.B., at p. 87

(1956) 96 CLR 99

(1966) 115 CLR 493

(1967) 117 C.L.R., at p. 457

(1932) 48 CLR 157 , at p. 166

*1966* 1 QB 716 , at p. 726

(1970) 92 W.N. (N.S.W.) 137

(1881) 7 Q.B.D. 510

*1950* 2 KB 534

(1970) 92 W.N. (N.S.W.) 137

(1703) 1 Salkeld 26 [91 E.R. 25]; 2 Ld. Raym. 909 [92 E.R. 107]

(1801) 2 B. & P. 416 [126 E.R. 1359]

*1966* 1 QB 716

[1970] 1 W.L.R. 1262 ; (1970) 44 A.L.J.R. 269

[1968] 3 N.S.W.R. 551

[1966] 2 LI.L.R. 142, at pp. 147-148

*1915* 1 KB 73 , at p. 88

*1962* 1 QB 694

[1966] 2 LI.L.R. 72

[1918] V.L.R. 615

[1924] N.Z.L.R. 890

(1919) 175 N.W. 300

[1960] V.R. 376

(1966) 115 CLR 493

[1922] N.Z.L.R. 662

[1924] N.Z.L.R. 890, at p. 896

(1970) 124 CLR 192

(1949) 49 S.R. (N.S.W.) 373, at pp. 376-377

(1877) 2 App. Cas. 792

(1870) L.R. 5 C.P. 437

(1848) 2 Ex. 415 [154 E.R. 554]

[1961] A.C. 807 , at p. 865

(1869) L.R. 4 Q.B. 379

(1907) 27 N.Z.L.R. 489