THE TELEGRAM LIBEL CASE.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2559, 1 May 1871, Page 2

THE TELEGRAM LIBEL CASE.

We are requested to publish the following Correspondence : Otago Daily Times and Witness Company (Limited). Dunedin, 27th April, 1871. Sir— Understanding tha-.it was the desire of the Government in instituting proceedings against Mr. G. B. Barton for libel, in reference to the charges made by him against the Government and Telegraph department, that the utmost publicity should be given to the enquiry in order to satisfy the gmblic that the Government and the department were blameless, 1 have now the honor to say that my Directors are willing to publish a full account of the whole proceedings in a pamphlet form, and I shall be glad to hear from you that the Government will Join us in this, aud pay onc-balf of the expense, one-half of the issue being placed at their disposal. I have the honor to be, &c. John Bathgate, Secretary. Hon. F. D. Bull, Dunedin. Dunedin, 28th April, 1871. Sir—l have received your letter of yesterday’s date. Yon rightly assume that the object of bis Excellency’s Government in the recent prosecution of Mr barton, was to satisfy the public that the Telegraph Department was blameless of the imputations which the Otago Daily Timet had thought proper to publish. I gather from your letter that your directors are satisfied, as well as the rest of the public, that this object was gained when the author of the libels was committed lor trial: though I have not yet been fortunate enough to see a retractation of the libels in the journal which had given them circulation. It hardly seems to me that any ad< itional end would be scoured by publishing nu re

extensively than has already been done the fact that Mr Barton was committed for trial after a full investigation ; but if your directors think that justice would be served by this information being disseminated in the shape of a special pamphlet, it will probably strike them lhat a retractation of the charges would be an appropriate introduction to the work, and justify to the proprietors of tho Dally Times, of whom I happen to be one, tho expense incurred.—l am, &c. F. Dillon Bell. Johnßatgate, Esq., Soc. Ohujo Daily 2’imes.