( 1 ) IN this suit the plaintiff states that on the 7th May, 1948 at Ahmedabad Station, 11 bales of hard waste under three several Parcel Way bills valued at Rs. 9,180/- all belonging for the plaintiff were delivered to the Bombay Baroda and Central India Railway and were accepted by them for carriage, under a contract entered into by and between the Railway and the consignor thereof. The contract is evidenced by the Parcel Way bills. The plaintiff had purchased the goods for valuable consideration. The Parcel Way bills were endorsed in favour of the plaintiff. The plaintiff was at all material times, and still is, the true owner of all the goods and as the holder and endorsee of the Parcel Way bills is entitled to the benefits of the contract with the said Railway. The B. B. and C. I. Railway agreed to carry for reward these 11 bundles of hard waste from Ahmedabad Station on the said Railway to Manipur Road Station on the Assam Railway through the Great Indian Peninsular Railway, the East Indian Railway, the Oudh Trihut Railway and the Assam' Railway and to deliver the sarhe to the consignee or its assigns. All these Railways are now owned and administered by the