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Otago Witness, Issue 2817, 4 March 1908, Page 3

PUBLIC NOTICES. (MT- fpHE TABLE OF CONTENTS w m X of this Issue trill hi found on Pasre 42. ALLEGED SLAXDER. A COMMISSION CASE. WELLINGTON, February 26. Mr Justice Chapman gave his decision this afternoon on a summons' to stay proceedings ir the case of Searl v. Lyons, a. claim for £1000 damages for allegedl blander uttered at a meeting of creditors of the plaintiff in bankruptcy before the official assignee. The summons was preferred last week, on the ground that the proceedings were frivolous and vexatious, and that the statements made by defendant were privileged, and were made, if at ail, by defendant as a creditor of plaintiff, and as the late partner of plaintiff, in respect of matters in" which defendant had a direct interest with the other creditors ol plaintiff. His Honor felt that he was forced to the conclusion thar, as the words complained of were not enoken by witnece in answer to a question put to him in the' course of an examination, ancV as defendant | was not at the time a party in attendance on court or tribunal entitled to- take part as such in its proceedings, no such, privilege as was claimed existed. Whether h« could claim the privilege of a pei-son making communications without malice to persons in common interest with himeelf upon an occasion of prima facie privilege was a question with which his Honor did not think himself at present concerned. The summons was dismissed, with costs. <i FATAL ISDUSTRY. ' GUMDIGGING AND CONSUMPTION. AUCKLAND, February 26. ' The gumdigging industry was one of thflf topics discussed at the session of the To Ante Association to-day. The Rev. H. Hawkins said he had jio sympathy for the industry. It had brought, a curse, in the form of disease, to tlie» Maoris of the north. Jt had been founJ by medical men that about 50 per cent, of the Maoris of the north had tuberculosis.The diggers resided in wretched houses, and they worked most of the time in the wet. Other speakers endorsed Mr Hawkins's remarks. The Rev. G. Maunsell added that tha flax industry was akin to that of gumdigging. He had seen Maori girls working in the flax fiolds, and standing in water up to the waist the whole day. criY valuations. A SATISFACTORY INCREASE. The rateable value of property of Greater Dunedin for the year 1908-9 has been computed by Mr J. R. Morris, city valuer, and his staff. The figures, which show a total increase on thoso of the previous year of £12,207, are as follow: — J 907-8. 1908-9. Increase South Ward .. £ 49.974 £ 50.959 £ 985 High Ward .. 122,255 125,861 3,606 Bell Ward .. 69.252 71.800 2,548 Leith Ward .. 70,278 71,972 1,69* £311.759 £320,592 £8,833 Caversham Ward .. 40,286 41.792 1,508 South Dunedin Ward .. 32,666 34,034 1,868 - £364,711 £396.918 £12.207 FATIL WRESILISG BOUT. THE INQUEST. NAPIER, February 27. At the inquest on the body of the man John Howell, who died as the result of injuries sustained in a wrestling contest at the Caledonian sports, the evidence of the two judges of the contest, of a- professional wrestler, and of one of the doctors who attended him and who saw the occurrence, was to the effect that there had not been the slightest trace of rough handling or. unfairness in the wrestling, and that the 1 injury seemed to have been caused in ill purely accidental manner, the deceased! having twisted his neck in trying to recover himself. The medical evidence was to the effect that death was caused by laceration* of the spinal cord. The inquest was adjourned to allow information to be obtained as to the- practice or otherwise of using mate in field wrestling. THE TARIFF. IMPLEMENT MAKERS' GRIEVANCE^ CHRISTCHURCH, February 27. The Hon. J. A. Millar received a deptii tation this morning consisting of agricul" tural implement makers. A clause in th< Tariff Act provides that when dutiable imported materials are made up into non* dutiable goods the makers may have thai duty returned. At present difficulties are put in the way of operating the olauee, which made it most unworkable, and thai deputation asked that facilities should' b€ improved. The Minister promised to looli into the matter and to do his best. Wood yields one-fourth the heat of coal;] eiiarcoal about the same beat as coaj.