IN THE COURTS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 30, 28 September 1912, Page 2

IN THE COURTS.

ACTION FOR LIBEL. (Per Press Association.) Masterton, September 27. » A unique libel action was beard in tbe Supreme Court to-day,, before the Chief Justice, when a local native named Taiawhio Tetau claimed £5Ol damages for libel against Father Delacli, a well-known Roman Catholic missionary priest', on account of an article published in the Maori paper To. Whare Kura, of which defendant is editor. Plaintiff is head bishop of the religious organisation known as "The Seven Rules of Jehovah," and as Such wears "a garb which resembles a bishop's attire of the Anglican Church. Defendant published a statement in, the Te Whare Kura which was held to ridicule ihc bishop, by alleging that he was "a woodhen in peacock's feathers." The jury returned a verdict for plainjtiff,> and awarded £5 damages. Costs were allowed on the lowest scale.

auckland sessions. ',. sUHa: . - * S'LM Auckland, September 27. n In tb Supreme Court the following sentences were passed on prisoners convicted in the Police Court:—Riri Tha Tua, "for 'indecent assault on a girl, five years' imprisonment; Laurence Jillings, for criminal assault on a girl, five years' imprisonment; Thomas Dock-ray,-'for forgery and uttering and theft, two years' imprisonment and five yeari' formative treatment. ,_ ••■ - > V- 1 ,