BILLS OF COSTS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1618, 25 July 1887, Page 3

BILLS OF COSTS.

♦ A libel action, Bell v. Hoare, 'was beard In Geelong recently, m whioh' the plaintiff was Mayor of Geeiong, and the defendant the proprietor of the- "Gee long Times." The aotion resulted m favor of the defendant, with oosti. The«e were taxed, but afterwards the taxation oame before Mr Justice Holroyd for review on the following item: "To attendance on the plaintiff and witnesses, a'so looking up and perusing many books of various authors, amongst others, worki of Charles Dickens, William Thackeray, and Mark Twain, containing paragraphs reflecting on unnamed Individuals, and the probability of libel _ actions being brought against the authors ; " also, conferring with literary men as to It occurring to any author and leaderwriter on (coasion to conceive the idea ef drawing a sketch made up of personal txptrienoo of varions individuals, as the defendant had done m the al'eged libellous article, but without intending that it should refer to anyone m particular. . . . engaged off and on fifteen days." £52 10s was claimed, and £42 allowed. The plaintiff contended that this was ex •Miive. Mr Justice Holroyd has referred the bill of coats back to the taxing master, with a direction that if he had allowed anything for reading- the works |uamed, and conferring with literary men, it had been dona errroneocsly.