THE NATIVE LIBEL CASE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2108, 12 January 1886, Page 2

THE NATIVE LIBEL CASE.

The libel (case J. Munro Frazer against Ngakura and five other?, was called at the R.M. Court Cambridge yesterday morning before Mr H. W. Northcroft R.M. Mr W. M. Hay appeared for the informant and Mr F. A. Whitaker for the accused. There was alurge attendance of natives at the court. Mr Whitaker said when the case wa» last adjourned it was understood that one native who lived at Mokau should be produced. The accused had produced him and he was now in court. Mr Hay said that at the lait court day I the case was adjourned in order that » subpsena might be served on the Clerk of Parliaments to produce the telegram sent by the accused to the Native Affairs Committee the same as set out in the information. He had done everything in hit power to secure the attendance of the Clerk of Parliament", but it appeared that this official had left Wellington and had gone for his holidays down South, and was not even accessible py a telegram. Mr Hay then read the telegrams whioh bad passed on the matter, and concluded by asking for a remand till next Friday, loth inst. Mr Whitaker opposed the application. The prosecution had undertaken to have everything ready, and it was evident, even from the telegrams read by Mr Hay that he could have secured the attendance of an official with the necessary documents. The defendants stood charged with a very Herious offence in the eye of the law, and these adjournments were attended with very great expense and inooqvenicnoo to

thorn. They had brought all their witnesses together and were fully piepared t<> t;o on with the caae. Tin- informant was Bvidently not prepared and he would therefore auggeyt that the case be diiinis*ed for want of evidence. After some riimiwinn auto coata, the case w.vs adjourned till Friday next.