Bryce-Rusden Libel Case.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1688, 19 April 1886, Page 3

Bryce-Rusden Libel Case.

(ELECTKUC TELEGRAPH. — COPYRIGHT.) (REUTER'3 TELEGRAMS.) Adelaide, Saturday. Files of London; papers to; hand per the Cuimborazo gives full details of the Bryce-Rusden libel trial. Mr Bryee >yas examined at great length, and the manner m which he gave his evidence produced , a favorable impression on "the Judge and jury. The defendant's counsel m cross examination evinced a desire to indicate that an action " brought more to clear the reputation of the Hall Government than to satisfy the honor of Bryce. but the court refused countenance of this attempt and remind- ■■ ed the jury that the question at Jssrie was solely whether as stated by Rirsdbn' that Bryce attacked women and children by cutting them down gleefully and easily.' Judge Barron Huddlestone declared m, summina: up that defence on that point had failed completely. Mr Bryce was , cross-examined very closely as to the details of the Parihaka incident. Counsel '. for defence endeavouring to show that, he" (Bryccj) had treated Te'Whiti with; unnecessary harshness. The. policy of~ ;the Hall Government with regard to this- - matter was canvassed, but the Court held that personal harshness on the part of Mr Bryce must be cited. The, chief, in-V terest m the trial centered m the defence! which was generally regarded as essenti-1' : ally wealcV Mr Rusd'en in' his examiria- . 'tiori stated he had endeavored to write" a true- histrtry of New Zealand upon the t material- supplied him by the Bishop of Wellington, (Dr Hadfield), and Sir Arthur Gordon, then Governor of New Zealand, taking his information also fromBlue Books, the New ' Zealand press, as well as from personal conversations with the Maori natives. He disclaimed allidea of being actuated by ill feeling or" -.; maliper. towards Mr Bryce personally, ..but, i.maiptained that procejedings at Parihaka were ''of the crbellest; nature. In cross-examination- -,-My : . Rusden admitted that when he compiled the, history m question he had heard -nothing as to the slaughter of the ],wives and children of the Natives, bufrwdssubr-: wqu^ntly informed of Bryce's action m the matter through Sir Arthur Gordon* , and Bishop Hiidfield, hence he came to write; the paragraph which formod the the subject of the present action!. . flfe placed reliance to the statements? made to him by Bishop Hadfield and the: conanmnication received from Sir Arthur Gordon. When he discovered thjj miiS/. take he made v statement declaring, tliat women were present at the woolfsjied, and he prepared a list of errata fj)r tlie • book, but gave no orders to attaphthe errata t© the copies printed. ) '.-' >