TELEGRAPHIC

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2272, 14 July 1881, Page 3

TELEGRAPHIC

NEW ZEALAND

[PER press association.] AUCKLAND, July 13 The Libel Case. In the case, Hurst v Wickham, defendant pleaded not guilty and justification, inasmuch as tho matters alleged against the plaintiff wore subjects of suspicion at the time. The plea was demurred to, and tho judge overruled Jt as bad, declaring that to justify the libel, tho defendant must plead the absolute truth of tho allegations contained in tho article. Defendant’s counsel asked time to amend the plea. The judge said that there was no difficulty in tho way of putting in a plea of truth at once in acoordar.ee with tho Act, if they desired to do so. Counsel for plaintiff said he was instructed to afford every facility to tho defendant to prove the truth. His client courted the fullest investigation, and he would not oppose the adjournment therefore to put in a new plea. An adjournment till to morrow was granted accordingly. The case Roes v Wickham was then called, in which only a general plea of “ Not Guilty ” was put in, defendant not offering any evidence in support of justification. At the conclusion of the case the judge summed up strongly in favor of defendant _ The jury returned a verdict of “ not guilty,” and Wickham was discharged. Monomania. Mrs Catherine Webster, a patient at tho Lunatic Asylum, who had persistently refused food since last December, or to speak or open her eyes, died of exhaustion. The verdict at the inquest was, “ Death from natural causes.” WELLINGTON, July 13. Fire DrillA hose and reel competition took place this afternoon, between the Carterton and Wellington Fire Brigades. The latter won by six seconds. Libel Action. The civil sittings of tho Supreme Court commence to-morrow, when the action Griffiths v Johnson will bo tried_ before a special jury. The plaintiff, who is an auctioneer and commission agent residing at Blenheim, sues defendant, the publisher of the “ Marlborough Express,” to recover £IOOO damages, tor an alleged libel published in that journal. The alleged libel was contained in a letter to the editor, in which it is contended that the writer imputed to the plaintiff that he hod been guilty of setting fire to tho Government Buildings. The issues were tried at Blenheim in December last, but the jury were unable to arrive at a verdict, and it was then decided to piece the issues before a special jury in Wellington. Aquatic At a meeting of rowing men this evening the stakes in connection with the recent sculling championship were handed over to Hearn, the winner. Mention was made as to the probability of an interprovinoial regatta this year, but it was thought unlikely that it could be got up in Wellington. The Weather Exchange. Intercolonial weather exchange—Sydney, Wednesday evening—There was a strong southerly gala with rain yesterday on the east coast of Australia, but the weather is now clearing. High pressure Is still general, tho barometer being at Perth 30.3, Eohuoa 30.4, Adelaide 30.4, and Sydney 30 2. CARTERTON, July 13. FireDrumgool’s boarding house was burned down at four o’clock this morning, and hardly anything was saved. Tho furniture was insured for £75 in the National. The premises, which are the property of a Wellington loan society, are said to be insured. The brigade could not render much assistance, as no water was handy, but they succeeded in saving the neighboring property. DUNEDIN. July 13. The Knife. Thomas Thomas was committed for trial for stabbing a constable. The latter was ejecting him from a restaurant, when Thomas, without provocation, struck him with a knife over the region of the heart. The wound is severe, but not dangerous. HopefulOver 3000 shares have been applied for in the New Zealand Refrigerating Company, A telegram has been sent to London for freezing machinery. [from the own correspondent of the “press."] WELLINGTON, July 13. The Government have received no further news regarding the Native fencers. A watch is kept on the spot, and there has been no return of the Maoris. The whole affair is believed to bo a mere try on of a few Natives. I hoar that the jury in Whitelaw’s case were exactly equally divided, six being for conviction, while six held that he had not exceeded his powers. The neglect of the late Provincial* Government in not proclaiming the Asylum when opened in 1873 is censured.