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Temuka Leader, Issue 1561, 29 March 1887, Page 2

THE LAW OF LIBEL. A most extraordinary libel case was heard in Dunedin last week before Judge Williams. The plaintiff was J. W. Robinson, an architect, of Wellington, and the defendant the proprietor of the Dunedin Evening Star. The declaration of the plaintiff set forth that the defendant did print and publish in 1883 an incorrect report of a case beard in the Police Court, as follows : “ William Henry‘[White, of Kensington, was charged with assaulting Joseph Robinson on March 3. Mr Mouat appeared for the complainant, Mr Lennistoun for the defendant. The evidence showed that the complainant, who is an architect, accosted a sister of the defendant’s on the evening of February 29, and, haring ascertained name, forced his company upon her. She was unwilling to carry on a conversation with him, and walked at a fast pace to rid herself of bis company. The girl went to the Atheneum, and on her way book was again accosted by the defendant, who ssked her to go along with him. Miss White met a gentleman acquaintance, and complained to him of Robinson’s conduct. Next morning she acquainted her brother of what had happened, and be interviewed the complainant tsveral times for the purpose of obtaining an apology. On the last occasion (Saturday afternoon) be met complainant on the street, and informed him that unless be consented to give a written apology he would thrash him. At complainant’s request, the defendant went with the former to bis office, and, after acme words bad passed, defendant struck him over the back and hands with a cane, the result of which had been to incapacitate the complainant from following his profession for several days."

It was alleged that this was not an accurate report of the proceedings of the Court; that subsequently several letters were published, headed “ A caution to girls," “ What shall we do with our dudes," etc,, and that all these things were calculated to bring the plaintiff into hatred and contempt. It was further alleged that the same paper published unfair criticism of designs exhibited by him in tbe Christchurch exhibition ; that owing to the said libels baying been published the health of the defendant broke down, and he was for 21 months unable to attend to his business. For this he claimed damages to the tune of ±ho,ooo. The jury of course found a verdict for the defendant with costs, which amounted to £1230, but so far as we can'gather from the Dunedin papers it is not likely that the plaintiff will pay them, and consequently they will have to be borne by the proprietor of the Evening Star. If so, we must ssy that it is very bard on him. He has not been guilty ot publishing libel, yet ho has been put to tbe trouble and annoyance of defending himse f, and if in addition be has to bear the costs of tbecase it must be admitted that it is very hard on him. This shows the urgent necessity that exists for legislation concerning libel. At present it is difficult to say what is libel and what is not. It is a mere matter of guesswork. This should not be so ; it ought to be properly defined ty Act of Parliament, and no one ought to be allowed to bring an action for libel until he has given absolute security that he will pay the costs in the event of being defeated. As the Otago Daily Times pointed om, n is absolutely wrong that newspaper proprietors should be at the mercy of unscrupulous persons who might trump up bogus libel cases against them for i he purpose of putting them to expense,

LOCAL AND GENERAL. Pleasant Valley School.—The annual treat and distribution of prizes in connection with this School takes place on Thursday next. Sale or Fabmuts Stock,—Mr W. S. Mulin holds an extensive sale of farming stock on the farm of Mr W. Ellery, Belfield, Orari, to-morrow. Temuka Football Club.—The annual general mertirg of the Temuka Football Club will be held at the Royal Hotel this evening. A full attendance is requested. Entbbtainmbnt at Tbktjka.—The Per-maD-Tobes Company, under the management of Mr J.L. Hall, give an entertainment in the Temuka Volunteer Hall to-night. The •ompany appoare in “ Fun on the Bristel,” a pl«y that has been most successful wherever it has been produced. Annivbbsabt Tea Mbbtiko —The anniversary tea meeting in connection with the Wesleyan Church, Temuka, takes place tomorrow night. The tea will commence at half past six o’clock, and preparations are being made for a large attendance. Some good speakers are expected at the public meeting, and the choir will give some choice selections.

tPOETING.— At the Liverpool Spring Meeting the Grand National Steeplechase, of BiOOO, added to a sweepstake of 16 guineas each, second horse to receive 150, and the third 100 sots from the stake, a handicap for four-year-olds and upwards, nearly four miles and B-half resulted j—Mr B. Jay’s Gamecock, 6yrs, 1; Baron Sohroeder’s Savoyard, aged, 2 ; Captain Workman’s Johnny Longtail, aged, 3.

The Maoandbew Memorial. —At a meeting of the Macandrew Memorial Fund Committee at Dunedin on Friday, a letter was received from Sir J. Vogel urging that the idea of scholarships should be abandoned, and the governing bodies of the High School and University left to establish them. He thinks a statute should be erected without question, and a piece of property purchased for the family. Those present at the meeting reported that about £3OO had been promised. Some severe comments wore made on members of the committee who bad undertaken to canvass certain districts, but bad failed to intimate with what result.

The BPfiifs Statue, — The foundation stone of the Barns statue was laid at Dunedin on Saturday afternoon with great ceremonies. A procession of Friendly Societies, headed by pipers and with four bands, w,s formed, and after going through the principal streets the stone was laid with musonio ceremony by Mr J. Gore, M.H.R., D.D. Grand Master, The usual coins, papers, etc., were placed, in the cavity. The gathering was very large. Owing to prior engagements the Governor was not present. Among the spectators were Mr A. J. Burns, grand-nephew of the poet, and Mrs Stephenson and M ss Burns, grand-nieces.

Robbbet of Jbweibeev.— A woman named Eliza Whittet was arrested is Timam on Friday last on a charge of drunkenness, and on her wee found a receipt for a packet registered at the Timaru post office and receivable at Christchurch. Shonly afterwards the robbery of a quantity of jewellery from the house of a Mr George Henry, an insurance agent, was reported to the police, and they at once conjectured—from their knowledge of the prisoner Whittet's ante cedents—that the registered packet contained the stolen property. She was charged wilh the offence, and brought up et the Police Court on Saturday and remanded to Monday. It was found on examination that the registered packet contained most of the stolen jewellery, and the prisoner took the police to where she had hidden the balance, and it also was secured. The hiding place was in a bucket of cinders underneath the staircase in the Colonial Bank buildings, opposite the Ship Hotel. The prisoner is married and the mother of ten children, and she came up from Dunedin in the Omapere. The steamer called in at Oamaru on Thursday, and a warrant has been issued therefor her arrest on a charge of stealing jewellery valued at £7 from a private residence on that day. She was evidently in the habit of making full u«e of her time. At the Police Court yesterday the prisoner was further remanded for seven days. Inspector Broham informed the Court that the postmaster refused to give up the jewellery until instructed from headquarters to do so.

Presentation.— On Friday evening Mr D. Guerin, on the occasion of hia leaving the police force to take charge of a hotel he bus taken in Kaiapoi, was presented «»ifh a purse of sovereigns in the Star Hotel, Temnka. Thera were about 30 persons present. Mr J. M. Twomey, in making the presentation, paid a high tribute to Mr Guerin’s efficiency as a policeman. He had not been long in Terauka, but short as the time was that he had been in it he had gained tbe peoples’ goodwill, as manifested by the presentation they were making him. Mr Guerin, to the speaker’s knowledge, had left nothing undone he ought to have done, and did nothing he ought not to have touched. He had done his duty without fear, favor, or affection, and thus had gained the respect and esteem of everyone. The speaker then proposed “ The health of Mr Guerin," which was duly honored, Mr Guerin said he was extremely thankful to tb«m for the pre;sentation and for theii kind expressions of goodwill. It was more than he expected or merited, and he would always retain a kindly recollection of his friends in Tern uka. A long list of toasts were then gone through, several songs were sung, and after ft most enjoyable evening had boon spent the party broke up about 17 o’clock.

Timaru A. and P. Association The annual general meeting of the Timaru Agricultural and Pastoral Association was held on Saturday last. There was a fair attendance, and Mr W. Moody (President) occupied the chair. The report and balance-sheet were taken as read, and adopted. It was resolved—- “ That the secretary be instructed to use every effort to collect members’ subscriptions In arrears, ani to make a personal application where possible, particularly of members resident in the town.” Mr G. H. Rhodes was elected president. Mr Moody then vacated the chair, which was taken by Mr Rhoden, Mr J. C. Ru'herford was elected vicepresident, and Mr W. Moody treasurer. The following Committee was elected— Messrs Wm. Balfour. A. M. Clark, A. B, Cox, R. Davie, E. Elwonhy, Henry Ford, John Goldie, A. Grant, K. F, Gray, Wra. Hay, E. Kelland, D, McLaren, Robert M«ckay, C. N. Orbell, E. T. Rhodes, A. 0, Pringle, R. H. Rhodes, T. Hatnlyn, Wm. Stevenson, Thomas Teschemaker, R- Irwin, George Ta'bot, A. Macpherson, A. Wylie, and F. W. Stubbs (Secretary). Resolved—“ That for rule 5 the amendment on the fi-st page of the leport be adopted, also tbe same procedure for rule 8, and a'so for rule 17, and that new rules be primed with dies- I additions, 300 copies lo be printed.” The meeting then terminated.

The Txmabd Breakwater.—The Com mission re the proposed Titnaru Breakwater Extension, consisting of Messrs T. Y. O’Connor snd 1). Austin, will sit in Timaru on Monday, April 14th. Thb Tongaeiro. —The Tongariro arrived at Wellington from London, via Hoi art, at five on Saturday evening, after a fine weather passage. Her northern mails were sent up by the Fawea (he same evening, and the southern by the Rotorua on Tuesday. The Weather.—Last Saturday n : ght was one of the warmest of the season. At midnight the thermometer stood at 72, and seldom, if at ell, has it ranged so high at such an hour in the middle of summer. Rain fell heatily, and the shower did a great deal of good. The weather, however, has since changed, and last night wa had a strong frost.

Sunday Services.—Mr Corrie Johnston again conducted Divine service in the <'dd' fellows’ Hall, Oe>aldine, on Sunday, This talented evangelist appears to be growing in popularity in Geraldine, the audience on Sunday evening being the largest yel present. Mr Johnston again handled hii subjects in his own masterly style, which was evidently much appreciated by the audience.

The Rangitata.—The nor’-wester!of last Saturday melted the snow on the ranges and caused the Rangitata to rise higher than it has been known to for the past eight years. The creek by Mr Canavan’s residence rose to within a foot of the door, but, so far as we can ascertain no serious damage has been done. The flood subsided with remarkable rapidity, and it is conjectured that it has gone back to the north branch again, but there is no definite information as to that yet. The river is still impassable. R.M. Court, Timaru.—At the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Timaru, yesterday, a man was charged with drunkenness, and whs fined ss. William O’Brien was sentenced to a week’s imprisonment for using obscene language. 0. B. Cooper was charged with leaving a horse and vehicle unattended, but evidence having been given which proved that, some man (not known) had led the horse off a section where it had been loft, the case was dismissed.

Accident.— Mr A. R. Allan, Storekeeper, Tomuka, narrowly escaped serious injury yesterday- He drove over to Seadown, and, after having delivered some goods, was standmg in his cart when suddenly the horse took fright and bolted away. Mr Allan, being unprepared for this, and not having hold of the reins, was thrown out, landing on the back of his head on the ground. Fortunately, however, he escaped uninjured, and went at once after his bor»e, which had been brought to a standstill by meeting with a closed gale on its way. Luckily no.damage was done.

South Sea. Island? News. —The Arawata from Fiji arrived at Auckland at 1.30 last Sunday night. Advices dated 23rd March, state two schooners arrived at Suva from Tonga full of Natives, Wesleyans, deported by the order of the King. The ss. Suva also brought 29. H.M.S. Diamond arrived from Hobart on the 20th and was leave for Tonga to-day with the High Commissioner, Chief Judicial Commissioner, and Secretary to the Commission. According to advices by the s.s. Suva the persecution of Wesleyans is still heavy in Tonga. The s.s. Arawata was quarantined for three days on arrival in Suva in consequence of scarlet fever in Auckland at the time of her departure. Many summary dismissals from the Civil Service have been made with the . object of re* trenching, and more are to follow. Rain has been incessant during the whole month. Trade is at zero. Railway Refreshment Rooms, Timaeu. —D. McGuinness begs to inform his Burner ous friends, and the travelling public in particular, that having taken the above rooms for a fresh term he has decided to reduce the charges hitherto made, and in future they will be as follow Breakfast in readiness for early trains, Is 6d; Hot Lunch or Dinner, served up in the hitherto well-known profuse style, on arrival of North and South Express trains, Is 6d. Tea and Coffee always in readiness, and choice confectionery, &o. Ibe lessee would especially draw attention to the Ladies’ Private Dining-room, which has been specially arranged and furnished for their convenience. A waitress is always in attendance. The usual Is Lunches are still continued at the Club Hotel.—Advt.

SYNOPSIS OF ADVERTISEMENTS. B. Taylor, Geraldine Wants a house keeper. Pleasant Valley School Committee—Advertise date of treat. K. F. Gray—Will sell rye grass seed at Temuka to-morrow. In Bankruptcy—Re Patrick Madden, of Waitohi, farmer. Solicitor, Mr W. G, Aspinull. Temuka Boad Board—lnvite tenders for enlarging drain, for clearing drains, and for forming and shingling. New Zealand Clothing Factory, Timam (B. Foster, Manager)—Notify that owing to their temporary premises being too small for their large stock their cheap sale will be continued ; over £IOOO worth of winter goods just arrived. J. Ballantyne and Co., Victoria House, Timaru—Announce that ‘ they have seem e i the services of Mies Grey, a most successful costume maker, and are now prepared to do the leading dressmaking trade j new goods arriving daily. A. W. Gaze, Accountant and Shipping and Stock Agent, Main Street, Temuka- Notifies that he is agent for Graham and Co.’s permanent foot-rot cure, Hayward and Tomlinson’s sheep dips, In wood and Co., Winchester, and Mutual Life Association of Australasia. He has cement, it on, fencing materials, and station stores for sale, also some purebred Lincoln and Southdown rams 5 has money to lend.