THE CADMAN-REES LIBEL CASE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4446, 16 June 1893, Page 2

THE CADMAN-REES LIBEL CASE.

By Telegraph,—Press Association, Na™, Friday. ' The Odd nan.Rees Libel action was beforothe Chief Justice .to-day, and a speoial jury of twelve. The damages claimed were £IOOO. Sir Rubert Stout and Mr Sainsbury £ were for the plaintiff, and Mr Rees con- i ducted his own case, Mr Theo, Oooper, ; of Auckland, being unable tu come. The alleged libel was ountainod in a memorandum to tho lota Premier, alleg- 1 iog that Mr Cadinan, while Native Mini- ' star, was trafficking in native lands with | Mr W. 0. Smith, they being the owners of the o'mualono block, near Danevirke, ( while the land was wanted fursottlomeut and was unprocurable. Fulthcr, that , their influence procured the appointment o; Mr Eoso, of Danevirke, as ! valuator, and that hu undervalued their ' land by some, thousands of pounds, and f *»s now their agents for its sale. Mr I Rase had valued the land at 24s 6d , per acre while other land further away from the township and not. ao valuable, was believed by Mr Beos to hare been valued at £8 per acre. 1 Further, that during the time Mr Oadman was Native Minister, he had i thwarted all efforts ui the Department : and others pledged to the Government regarding tho introduction of remedial | legislation in connection with Native affairs., Laier. Witnesses wen called by the plaintiff to show what they thought was the meaning of the paragraphs in the memorandum, the impression intheir mindawns ; that MrCadmau and MrSmith used their ( influenca in the passage of the Tuhoraite Validation Aol; to secure thoir title to 1 Amutawa Block from Natives. Further 1 thai they abused their positions for the 1 purpose of, acquiring wealth through trafficking in Native lands, and had used ; thoir influenoo to securo Mr Ruse as , valuator, and with Mr Rose conspired to . undervalue their block, and defraud tho L»nd Tax Department.