ALLEGED LIBEL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 7 March 1913, Page 5

ALLEGED LIBEL.

A TARANAKI CASE. : (By Telegraph. —t'ress AssociationS NEW PLYMOUTH; Last ISfight. In the Supreme Court to-day a farmer named James George Johnson, of Fraser Road, Hawera, proceeded against Thomas List, proprietor of the Taranaki Daily News, .for £5Ol damages, for alleged libel. At the last sitting of the Supreme Court, .. tho , plaintiff unsuccessfully proceeded against the Taranaki Herald for- alleged libel, contained, m the heading and body -of a report of a libel heard at a sitting, in which h© figured. The Taranaki Daily News commented editorially on the unsatisfactory state of the libel laws of the country which permitted a case of such a trumpery nature to be brought against a newspaper for doing its duty by publicly arguing that before a writ for libel or slander was issued, the merits of the proposed action should be invvostigated by a Magistrate, and only proceeded with, if the Magistrate was satisfied that a prima facie case, had been established, and that the amount of the money sufficient to cover the costs should be deposited with- the Court. Mr Johnson demanded an apology from the Now® for reflecting "upon his bona fides, which was refused. He then issued a writ against the News for alleged libel. The case caused a great deal of interest, and the jury, after five minutes retirement. returned a verdiqt for the defendant newspaper, with costs on the highest scale. The plaintiff conducted liis own case, while Mr M. Myers, of Wellington, appeared for the Taranaki News.

AUSTRALIAN RAGING

/Received Last Nieht, 8.40 <x'clock.) FLEMINGTON, Last, Night. The third day of • the Victorian (Racing Club's autumn meeting was continued to-dav in . fine weather. The results were, as folkiws: — Hopeful Stakes.— Malbrook 1, Carisbrook 2, Sir Malt 3. Won by a length and a half. Time, lmin 6 sec. All Aged Stakes. —Endorus 1, Uncle Sam 2, Jolly Beggar 3. Won in a canter. Time, lmin 45 l-ssec. Autumn Handicap.—Diabolo 1, Puaka 2, Did us 3. Won by two and a half lengths. Time, 3min 0 3-ssecs. Nursery Handicap.—Maltravers 1, f Agoie and Stainer dead heat, 2. (Won all the way. Time, lmin 16Jscc. j Loch Plate. —Paistres 1, Barvio s 2, Sheriff ?>. fNon er.fily. Time,, 3min 39f sec. River- Handicap.—Loch Am as 1, Nangor 2, Balmoral 3. Won easily jbv three lengths. * Time, 2min 14^-sec.