LIBEL CASE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1456, 17 May 1905, Page 3

LIBEL CASE.

(Per. Press 'Association.)' Wellington, last night. The Supreme Court was occupied this morning with an alleged .libel action, in which Herbert Thomas Wood, chemist, of Maaterton, sues Thomas George Mason, chemist, of Masterton, for £5Ol damages on account of a letter written by the latter to the Hospital Trustees regarding tenders

for chemists’'supplies to the,hospital. The j- latter alleged that Wood, overcharged on F articles supplied outside the schedule. The defence denies the libel, and claims that the letter was bona fide without malice and true in substance and fact. The case is proceeding, Later.—ln the Supreme Court this afternoon the libel action between two Masterton chemists was settled. Counsel for the defendant, Mason, Baid : “ I beg to state that he never had any intention of writing a letter to the trustees to charge Mr Wood with dishonesty and extortion, or unfair dealing in his transactions with the trustees. Hie attack was really on the system of tendering adopted. In view therefore of his never having intended to reflect on Mr Wood’s honesty or integrity, be has no hesitation in withdrawing the letter. At the same time he asserts that he was never actuated by any malice or spite towards Mr Wood. The question of costs has been satisfactorily settled beween the parties.” His Honor congratulated the parties on settlement - and dismissed the jury.