NEWSPAPERS AND LAWYERS IN WANGANUI.

Auckland Star, Volume IV, Issue 1189, 14 November 1873, Page 3

NEWSPAPERS AND LAWYERS IN WANGANUI.

LIBEL ACTION

(From an Occasional Correspondent.)

Wangaxui, October 31

Tttr picturesque town of Wanganui is a splendid field for the gentlemen' of the long robe, and a dangerous one for newspapers — there being bat two newspapers in the district, the proprietors of each ha\ '>ig been, at this session of the Supreme Court, ca"ed upon to defend actions for libel. If a journalist desires to prove a terror to ev'T-doers, and ventures to state facts, and fairly comments upon them with a view to purge the social atmosphere of infectious vapours ; or, in the discharge of his onerous duties, presumes to write in any but the most flattering terms, lie is at once visited by a would-be grandee, and threatened with the pains and penalties of the law. These standees are generally accompanied by one or two henchmen, and the editorial sanctum is invaded, the whole culminating in the service of a writ and declaration. In a recent issue of the Star you said, "If ever scandal flourished in any place rankly and luxuriantly it does in Auckland;" but had you paid a flying visit to this healthy locality it is not unlikely that you would have felt disposed to have modified, or perhaps entirely changed your opinion. Actions for slander pnd libel are as customa*y and prevalent as the sitting of the Circuit Court, and when one arises in the morning he eagerly seizes the Wanganui Chronicle to ascertain if, among the locals, there is a paragraph, commencing: We were yesterday served with a writ, issued at the instance of Mr &c. You have hardly been assured of thisj fact when the JSvening Herald announces " that from enquiries we have made we have re? son to believe that several minor inaccuracies crept into our report, and we hasten to correct them, Mr having threatened us with legal proceedings," &c. Truly this is a promising state of things, and likely to tend to the total annihilation of the liberty of the Press. It was contemplated to start another journal here, but the course of recent events has hopelessly crushed that enterprise. These local papers have no reason to fear a "rival," as any proprietary must of necessity have a bank at its back. If Mrs C.'s goat strays into Mrs B.s garden the services of one learned in the law are at once secured, and this trivial occurrence generally assumes the form for insulting aiid abusive language. On the very evening of my arrival two well-known celebrities were earnestly discoursing the probabilities of the case of Watt v. Bamnee, but finding that a stranger was within hearing, and a policeman in sight, with a mysterious and serio-tragic stage air they cautiously beat a retreat and entered the neighbouring "pub." In the month of February last certain letters appeared in the IPanganui TUvenhig Herald bearing upon " hens, and swamp hens," and in order that your readers may acquire a little knowledge of those birds I may add that- there is a place called the Swamp near the city, in which a number of " very prudent women " (if thiy wore for a Wanganui paper I should be compelled to write ladies) take their roost, and rumour with her busy tongue hath said that birds of a brighter plumage were also in cho habit of taking roost among them, until an old veteran " cockatoo," in .stormy weather unexpectedly brought them under his sheltering and protecting wings. The tender chickens no doubt wanted nursing, and the dismal swamp required draining—as a hen suffering from thirst a numberof the hens preferred adjourning to a neighbouring hotel. The unfortunate editor was at once pounced upon, and yesterday a special jury was called. A lawyer from the Empire city was engaged on the one side, and another from Picton on the other. The case was about to proceed when two of the jury intimated that they were Mi Itncases. Then ensued a brief delay, when the Wellington man of law suggested to his Pictorian brother that he wished to confer with him. The judge assented, and the two retired. The Court was crowded, I and solemn silence reigned, the eager spectators waiting to hear the result. At last the great men entered, and declared " that an arrangement had been arrived at by which the action was to be referred to arbitration." It was really gratifying to witness the heavenly smile that beamed upon the pallid countenances of these great guns, and I was not in any way alarmed when a portly old lady of some fifty summers, and seventeen stone said, '' Oh the butchers—they don't care so long as they get their dirty fee." This caused me to use my bandana, and with tears in my eyes meekly replied, " You are right m-a-a-m." She looked at me in such a winning way that, with Josh Billiners, "I felt quite flabbergasted;" but the Judge, with serious mien, shook his wigged head and told the jury " he was glad, and could not help congratulating them upon their having been spared the scandal of the details of the case, as the record disclosed anything but a healthy state of things." The defendant has pleaded that he can prove everything and much more than the letters referred to indicated, and having seen the brief must candidly confess that some strange things were likely to be made light. The Attor-ney-General has, I am informed, consented to act in the matter ; and as the investigation will partake of a private nature the Wanganui-ites will not be favoured with the interesting details ; but I have sent for my boy Friday, and as he can squeeze through a keyhole you may if civil be furnished with a few interesting scraps concerning this matter which has engaged the attention of so many ?n these parts. A bright idea just strikes me —l will give up the penny-a-lining business and turn lawyer. Just fancy the big guns mentioned received £250 between them, and they were not employed in Court longer than an hour. Pretty good pay this. RECEPTION 01" THE GOVERNOR. The Governor has been expected for some days, and our worthy Mayor and Councillors have been rather snubbed by the DeputySheriff, a major and a consequential little man who insists upon taking the chair at the proposed banquet, but will graciously permit the civic potentates to welcome Sir James on his arrival. How kind this is ; such gratitude is overwhelming. This has caused a slight split in the arrangements, and at one time the whole thing seemed likely to fall through, but lone sage and illustrious person, Powell by name, quoted from " Farley's Tales," or some such work, and as a precedent wished it established that because the gallant major had been in the army, and was a deputy-sheriff, that the post of honor should be assigned to him. The mayor then soothingly explained that " Farley's Tales" were only intended for naughty little boys and had no applicability to tho particular matter in- hand,

AXO'J'TTEK LIBEL CASE. Another libel case against the Wanganvi Chronicle —the morning paper—is now being proceeded with which will doubtless engage the pen of some scribe. I feel poetically inclined, and therefore, misther Editor, take my leave by asking— Have you a friend—a comrade dear, ■A n old ami valued friend, Be sure yimv term of sweet concourse At length v.ill iiaye an end. Warp.