WAIMATE LIBEL CASE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 317, 28 April 1877, Page 3

WAIMATE LIBEL CASE.

[at OtTR SPGCtAL iIE.POfc'EMS.j

The adjottroed case of Beecl v. Cuming came on for hearing ©n Thwrsday in the R.ML Ctrtfft, Watmate, before I>. Woolcombe, Euq. r of Timaru. Richard White Cuming, proprietor of the IV*bune, was charged with, that he did on the .With March, IST!, in his newspaper of that date, publish a certain malicious libel (written by R. A. A. Sherrin) reflecting on Geo. M'Cuttagh Reed. Mr. Hammerstey appeared for the prosecution,, and Mr. Clements for the de-

fence. . Mr. Hammerstey, in opening the case, aaid that the article referred to in the charge was inserted with the knowledge of the accused, and after hearing the evidence which he would bring forward to prove that it was so inserted, he asked to have accused committed for trial. He then called G. IJ. Graham, who deposed : I a«v clerk to tile R.M. Court, Wahuate. I took down the evidence of R. W. Cuming, in the case of Reed v. Sherrin, and the deposition: now produced is correct. Mr. Htirnmerstey having called the witnesses Williams and Scott, who gave similar evidence to that already published in the case of Reed v. Sherrio, the ease for the prosecution close tt. Mr. Clements then made a statement *o the effect that accused was sorry that he had e-ver allowed the article in question to appear in his paper, and had expressed himself by telegram to that effect to Mr. Reed before the present action was instituted. He deemed it his duty (no matter whether it affected this case or not) to publish an apology to Mr. Reed in the tt'aihmyi Trihnne as a matter of justice to that gentleman. Mr. Etamroerstey said that it was too liiti! i.ow to tfunk of an apology. He also said the reason he had asked for ?.n adjournnitnt previously was to allow the amised another opportunity of mafcmg an ample apology to Mr. R'-ed, but as he hail not done "so, he wr.s iimrtteted; to proceed with the ease. Mr. Clements here read the following correspondence :

Timam. April 4. 1877. Str. - t am instructed! by Mr. Urn'', of the <;««f/o Gairitimi,. to write to you that you will immediately apologue publicly for the art'ote written by Mwriu thai: appeared in your p«.p«P —tht> Wutioii'ji Tritium'—ai the 'l4th March last. The apology must f e written by STr. Hent,. unit signed by you. Abu, t mpv instructed to bring a civil action .i»;i'. t <. ■•■ for .K'ilH) ■ damag'-s.. consequent ■ ' '■ii.- m'-:.. o above rel'erre'l to. It! the apo|i r . . tee written, ami the compensa* ;.ii-! "owi'ibngss against you wilt bo ' ■ itiug your reply, believe me. A. S'V. ('!•. tt.VjntEF.St.FV.. To Mr. .E. Cuming. Mamaiit. lolh A-prt. 1877. Pkak Sri;,— Mr. fuming ha.* instructed mi! to reply Co your tetter to hiru of the 4i.fv hist., and' to inform, you that he l* quite •willing to sign, and have published any reaconn bin Hpology you may require, hut that he is wholly unable to pay your etient anything iu the shape of, money compensation. It appears to me that. in handing over the manuscript;, and giving evidence against the writer, which tended even U> criminate himself, ho has- done alt which can reasonably he t>:: peered of him under the circumstances. anil sufficient, £ think, to satisfy a brother editor. t!« gfnitl enough, to let me know, as* soon as you conveniently can,, if the above will satisfy your client :. if not, thereby give you notice to produce this tetter at the hearing of the criminal charge at Waimate. on Thursilav, the inst.—Yours truty. J". O'MF.Aiittr.B. A, St. ('!•. tlammerstey.. Solieito-, Timarw.

The Magistrate then eimimitted accused for trial at the next sittings-ot' the Supreme Court. TUnare, bait Wing allowed, hiraself for .L2(ff>, and two sureties of LlfiO eacll.

I many difficulties, and much prejudice, and j especially the persistent opposition on the part of the larger houses, glutting this market with Imported goods, and no doubt the retailer* found it to their advantage to push ! these in ©reference to local manufactures. The proprietors of the New Zealand Clothing ; factory .have therefore judiciously decided ; to introduce their manufacture* direct to the taxge consuming population of New Zealand, and in order to «fo so effectually, they hav. : determined to sell a single garment at the wholesale priee. The selling price is to be marked in plain figures on every article, from which no »l>atcment will be made. The business is to be conducted strictly on the cash principle, and all goods must be paid for on delivery, but any article not found suitable may l>e exchanged, or the money returned. As will be seen from the garments exhibited, the public will now be able to choose from the largest stock of mens, youths*, and boys' clothing, superior in style and quality, and at a proportionately 1 iwcr S>r'ce to anything that can be imported. Jut, irrespective of all these advantages, it is to the interest of everyone to .support an industry which employs New Zealand labor, and is a direct benefit to the butcher, baker, farmer, mechanic, shopkeeper, merchant, and to everyone in the community.—[Advt.]