VENKATESAM, J.

( 1 ) THESE three appeals arise out of three suits disposed of by a common judgment by the District Judge, of West Godavari at Eluru, in O. S. Nos. 48 and 36 of 1957 and O. S. No. 17 of 1958, respectively. These suits arose out of claims against the South-Eastern Railway, Calcutta, in O. S. No. 36 or 1957, and the Southern Railways. Madras, in the other two cases, claiming compensation for loss of goods in a fire accident, which took place in the railway goods-shed at Eluru.

( 2 ) THE relevant fact? in A. S. 47 of 1950 may be stated thus: The plaintiff Eastern Match Company, Tirumangalam, in Madurai District, delivered at Tirumangalam Railway Station, within the Southern Railway Administration, on 11-10-1956 two consignments of safety matches consisting of 56 bundles for being forwarded to Eluru Railway Station on the same railway, and obtained from the railway authorities two Railway Receipts, Nos. G/283748, Invoice No. 1. Goods Forwarding Note No. 21, and G/283749, Invoice No. 2, Goods Forwarding Note No. 22, for the sums of Rs. 205-2-0 and Rs. 181-15-0 paid towards freight. The goods were loaded in good condition, and the Railway Receipts were made in the owners r