NEW LAW OF LIBEL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1724, 24 December 1887, Page 3

NEW LAW OF LIBEL.

By the BUI introduced into the Honse of Commons by Sir Algernon Borthwlck, ■11 fair reports of judicial prooeedlogs are to be obaolately privileged, which provision Alone will save the Conrta a deal of trouble and deity, bo nice have the lawyers now made the distinctions between privileged and non-privileged matter. So, too, the proceedings oC public meetings are generally to be privileged — a reform which will at once save edltora much anxiety and will enable the public to get much Taluabla information of which it Is at present deprived, because journalises are afraid to give It. The further provision that the publication of police notices la to be privileged has also been much needed, l!nae the action recently brought against the " Times " by an ex-convJct who claimed damages becanee the police had warned the public against him and his swindles. Scarcely less valuable will be the enactment of the section which disallows plaintiff^ who cannot prove malice, and to whom an Apology has been made from re* eelviog theoretical sentimental damages. They ere only to have auch special damages ■s they can prove to have actually resulted to them from the publication of the alleged ÜbeL Another section is aimed at that gross abuse of our legal machinery by which the plaintiff iv the Kertch libel easel recently prosecuted a scries of actions for the same libel, while admitting that he could trace no damage to a parthular publication. It provides that la inch a oaae a defendant may give In evidence, m mitigation of damages, thet the plaintiff bas already recovered compensation for the same libel, which obviously fair course he Ib, under the prevent idiotic law, precluded from taking And there are twn' other cxcelient proylsloDs iv tbla comprehensive bill, viz., ibat no person ohaU be found guU'y on prosecution for libel, unless it be proved that he waa party or privy to lie publication ; and that m certain craes a plaintiff shall be obliged to give [security Jor ooats before being allowtd to proceed w|sh h s ls action.

P.n Saturday • Adolph Jean, of Mayhow ' Station, brought to this ot^ae samples of, a ppedlipg clj ngstcine peach raised by him, which fipcqnd to none m, the market. It h evidently from aD orange-clinß pit, and nearly true to the tree from which it carrje. This Seedling m^y be o| a little Redder marking flesh, tat \t is hardly distinguishable from the orange-cling either m appearance or flavor, and m si?e ranks with the hes,t. Spmo Q fthe samples measure aver twelve tnqhes io elroumferen.ce aqd weigh a poand. The t«ee upon whioh they grew is three years old, and bore this year five boxes of thia mammoth ff«U.- M^«»ori»eoto Recoil Union, •<