VARIOUS DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 June 1921, Page 1

VARIOUS DOMINION ITEMS.

TELEGRAMS.

[PEE PBKBB ASSOCIATION. —COPYBIGHT

CLAIM FOB LIBEL

SUCCEEDS AGAINST LABOUR PAPER. AUCKLAND, June 16. Hearing of a claim fior £IOOO for damages for alleged libel, brought by Henry Green against Jas Roberts, John Glover and the Transport Workers’ Federation, was continued before Justice Adams and a jury at the Supreme Court. The Judge, said he w'ould put to the jury fivo issues concerning each of the paragraphs on which the complaint was based. These issues were: (1) Did the defendants publish of and concerning plaintiff the words set out in tho tatement of claim ; (2) Are the statements true in substance and in fact; (3) Were the statements defamatory; (4) Were tho statements published maliciously; (5) What damage, if any, is the plaintiff entitled to recover?

After their retirement had exceeded three hours ,tho jury returned with a five-sixth majority in favour of the plaintiff. The first' third and fourth q uestions were answered in tho affirmative by tho majority, and the second question in th 0 negative. For some verses a sum of £2OO damages was awarded. For a second paragraph, the sum of £75 was awarded. Thus £275 was awarded for the whole action.

The Judge said Til’s decision was for £275 damages with costs, the motion for an injunction to b 0 withdrawn, and leave to he reserved to move) for a now trial within 14 days.

A CHURCH PROTEST. WELLINGTON, This Day. Speaking at the annual meeting of the Presbyterian Church Orphanage Association. Rev. Gibb referred to the recent bint of some interference with Church' orphanages. Tf they do this, lie said, they will have a hornet’s nest nlxnit them. They will bare on the plat farm against them Roman Catholic Archbishops, Anglican Bishops, representatives of the Presbyterian Church, representatives of Methodist Church and Salvation Army. Separated from on,, another, we sometimes think we are weak in not presenting a sufficiently strong front to the foe. but if we stand together. T do not know of any Ministry that will stand against us. Dr Gibb said they welcomed any test Government liked to impose and invited the elosest inspection Tihdit or day. Speaking of the Presbvtcrian orphanages, be knew thev compared more,than favourable with the handiwork of Government. though lie eollld. say tho same of nil Church institutions. Continuing, 1,0 said. —“T think we may say to tlie Government. “Hands off,” we have taken up this work.

AN OT.D MAN’S DEATH. DDNEDTN. June 15

Tlie Coroner Mr H. Y. Widdowson. this morning conducted an inouost concerning the death of .Tames Taylor, aged omhtvfonr years, who died at Dunedin Hospital on .Tune 12th. Deceased, who lived at JO. Ann Street. Roslyn. and was a retired civil servant, in attempting to board a moving tramear on the afternoon of June 11. fell on the roadway on bis fare, and was removed to the hospital.

Tlie evidence of witnesses showed that deceased was in a filthy and insanitary condition. On that account the car conductor had twice previously refused to permit him to hoard the ear, considering that his condition rendered him unfit to travel with the other passengers. The Coroner said that, according to the medical evidence, deceased was suffering from heart and chest trouble. Tlie evidence showed that he was in a neglected and insanitary condition. Tt was quite conceivable that he was unfit to he with th 0 other passengers in the car, and the car officials were quite right to refuse to let him on when he was in that condition. The old man had been refused admittance to the car on two occasions, and the third time had caught hold of a hand-rail, and not being like a younger man, who could have jumped on, had been dragged along. He would return a verdict that deceased died at Dunedin Hospital on June 12tli from heart failure, caused by being accidentally dragged along by a traincar, death being acee--1 crated by the condition of his heart and chest.

garage fatality DUNEDIN, June 16. The Coroner returned a verdict of accidental death through receiv.ng mi electric current, in the case of Arnold Thornycroft, who was electrocuted while repairing a motor car in a garage on June 9th Deceased was using a portable lamp and the evidence showed that an adjustment connection had been made in the shop. The City electrical emgineer stressed the danger of carrying out even simple repair adjustments unless thoroughly ci inpetent. The connection should not have been made without, the Corpora, ion’s permission, and by a qualified man. Hie engineer added that lie found similar conditions obtained in almost all the garages. Tlie danger was not lenlised.

PUBLIC SERVANT CHARGED.

WANGANUI, J'mc 16. At the Magistrate’s Court to-day, Harold J. Salmon, accountant in tlie Nativo Lands Department, was charged with theft of £338, tlie moneys being the property of the Z Government. The accused, was remanded until Monday. Bail was fixed at two sureties Qf #l5O.