LIBEL ON THE MAYOR OF PATEA.

Patea Mail, 3 February 1882, Page 3

LIBEL ON THE MAYOR OF PATEA.

CRIMINAL PROSECUTION. Patea R.M. Court, This Day, before Mr C. A. Wray, B.M. This case commenced on Tuesday, and is a criminal prosecution for an alleged malicious and defamatory libel published by Mr John Black of and concerning Mr G, F. Sherwood as Mayor of Patea. T. Eyton, Town Clerk, had given evidence that he was in the Mayor’s business office when the two tenders were received for advertising bye-laws and printing the same in pamphlet form ; had assisted to calculate the amounts, and had found that the Mail, tender was lower besides offering to do-the work within the time specified, whereas the other paper required four days. Mr Barton was for the, prosecation, Mr Hamerton for the defence. Mr Barton now asked; to recall and put another question to Mr Eyton. Did defendant call on you to ask for any explanation, after tenders were opened, and before publication of libel ?—No. Or any person on his behalf?—No, Have you not yet found the minutes of the Bye-law committee. —Yes. Cross-examined : No request was made to me to go into Mr Sherwood’s office in reference to these tenders. I dropt in casually, I saw the tenders opened about two o’clock on the Saturday, after the second tender came in. It is not nsual to open tenders before the advertised time of closing them. It is not usual to accept a tender before the time stated for closing tenders. Having aeon the tenders of the two papers, did you communicate the contents of the Evening News tender to the other paper, that is before the publication of this libel ? Witness : No. The Mail, in Monday’s issue, did disclose part of the News tender ; that is, the Mail stated that the other tender was higher, and that the time required for publishing was four days. After dinner the libel action was suspended to hear a civil case Dale v. Cross. The first ascent, of Mount Egmont from New Plymouth this season was made on Tuesday by a party of gentlemen who succeeded in reaching the summit. The Taranaki. Education Reserves Commissioners f have agreed to the transfer ,of the lease of section 67, WLennakurn, from Richard Joyce to W. Gadsley. Licensed Victuallers met at New Plymouth on Wednesday to discuss business of a private character in connection with the working of . the-new Licensing; Act. The infant daughter of Mr Wilfred Waters, of Bonny Gleiij Rangitikei, died on Wednesday from the effects of sucking the heads of matches.

The Assessor of property in Wellington took a note of all empty tenements, and gives the total as 829, the majority of which are of a poor description. The early closing Association at Greymoulh has had applications for membership from persons ontside the ranks of both employers and employees. The Association is strong enough to take a responsible part in providing local entertainments. M. Colas, an officer in the French navy, serving, at Noumea, has been sentenced to death for having struck his snperior officer. ; He is one of the most distinguished officers in the French navy. The harbor dredge at Napier 'will lift about 150 tons of material in five hours. The material taken from the bottom at the breastwork is being dropped at the back of the training wall above - the bridge. The Exhibition building at Christchurch is to be erected in Hagley Park. The structure will comprise an oblong block, with an open space in the middle. The building will be of galvanised iron on wooden framework. The ground occupied will be 10 chains 12 links in length and 4 chains 27 links in width. A quantity of .bees, destined for Canada, have been received in London from Cyprus. They were let out near London for a fly. •