SUPREME COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 327, 14 June 1911, Page 5

SUPREME COURT.

j WANGANTI SESSIONS. ) By Telegraph.—Press Asseciation. IWangan ui, Yesterday. Owing to the Supreme Court being in session this morning, the Magistrate's Court had to be conducted in a small room at the rear of the court, offices. This has been the cause of frequent objection, and an indignant protest was entered by members of the local Bar at the failure of the Justice Department to provide sufficient accommodation. Mr. Cohen, who introduced the subject, said that it was scandalous that justice should have to be administered in a "a parody of a court." It wa.s decided to press the matter on the department, to which frequent representations have been made, and the Borough Council has oll'cred to assist. The Supreme Court sessions opened this morning, there being only one criminal ease.

ALLEGED LIBEL. Nelson, Last Night. Mr. Justice Chapman and a jury were occupied all day with the hearing of an action in which Mrs. Effie N. Richardson, widow, claimed £3OOO damages from the proprietors of the Nelson Evening Mail for alleged'libel said to be contained in a report of a lawsuit between plaintiff and the Waimea County Council in the Magistrate's Court, in which the former was charged with encroaching on the road line in fencing her property in the Maitai Valley. Mr. E. G. Jellicoe appears for plaintiff and Mr. 0. L. Herdman for the defendants. The evidence had not been concluded when the Court rose. DIVORCE GRANTED. Wanganui, Last Night. In the Supreme Court yesterday, a divorce was granted in the case of Allan v. Allan and Tairei. The husband and wife were half-castes, and the co-re-spondent a full-blooded Maori. Damages to the extent of £(>o were awarded. Plaintiff lived in Karioi, and had been married but a short time. There was no defence. LIGHT PUNISHMENT. Wanganui, Last Night. In the case, Rex v. Michael Flynn, aged 59, the jury returned a verdict ot guilty of indecent assault on a female three years old. The first jury disagreed, and a second was out three and a half hours. Prisoner, who was undefended, pleaded drunkenness, and was sentenced-, to three years' imprisonment.