AUCKLAND.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3912, 13 July 1881, Page 2

AUCKLAND.

„Th,is day. "Wickham and the toils of the Lam

In the case Hurst v. Wickham, the defendant pleaded not guilty, and justification , inasmuch as the matters alleged against the plaintiff were the subjects of suspicion at the time. The plea was de.murred'to, and the judge overruled it. as bad, declaring that to justify the libel, the defendant must plead absolute truth of allegations contained in the article. The defendant's counsel asked time to amend the plea. 'Ihe Judge said there was no difficulty in.theway of putting, in the plea of truth at once, in accordance with the act if they desired to do do.

The counsel for plaintiff'said he was instructed to afford every facility to the defendant to prove the truth, and his client courted the fullest investigation, so he would not oppose the adjournment. To put in a new plea the case was adjourned accordingly.

The case Kees v. Wickhanr was then called, to which only a general plea of " not guilty " was put in, the defendant not offering any evidence in support of justification in this case. The only point to determine therefore is whether the language complained o.f is libellous. The case is proceeding..

In the charge of arson against the Bindons, Judge Gillies said the crime of arson was one of the worst in the calender, and the most difficult of detection. He thought the evidence in this case was most conclusive of guilt, and while desirous of giving due weight to the recommendation of the jury, he must still make the mitigated penalty exemplary, and sentenced the elder brother to five years, and the younger to three years. The relaxation in the latter case being made because the younger brother did not seem directly interested except as an accomplice.

The Government have issued instructions that all vessels from Sydney, including the Detached Squadron, must be quarantined until twelve days have elapsed from the time of departure from the infected ports.

At the New Z aland Insurance Company's half-yearly meeting, the report states that after appropriating £70,275 in reduction of the value of the Company's premises, and writing off the whole furniture account, £24,725 is available for distribution. The directors propose the payment of a dividend of three (shillings per share, £15,000—balance carried forward, £9,725—t0ta1, £24,725. The profit and loss account shows Fire and Marine premiums, less re-insurances, £86,799. Balance from last half-year, £21,799; appropriation, £18,973; interest, rents, &c, £11,507; total, £139,077. The report was adopted.