LATEST WELLINGTON NEWS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2757, 15 March 1890, Page 2

LATEST WELLINGTON NEWS.

(bv telegraph.— piiess association.) Wellington, Last Night. The Hutt County Council yesterday erected one of the toll-sates' destroyed on the previous night, but it was again cat down and the timber burnt. The timber for a second gate was on the ground, and this was thrown into the harbour. An action was heard in the Supreme Court, to-day, before the Chief Justice, and a special jury of twelve, in which Edmund E. Chamberlain, and T. E. Chamberlain, farmers, and members of the Masterton Borough Council, claimed £1000 damages from Messrs Smith sind Hogg, proprietors of the Wuirarapa Star, in respect of certain words contained in a leading article published by them, after the last mayoral election at Masterton, in which plaintiffs wero accused of attempting to carry the election, by making use of deliberate untruths. The Star also suggested in the same article, that it was the duty of the Mayor elect to purge himself of the accusatiou of being promoted to iris position by deliberate lying on the part of the plaintiff and their co-workers. The defendants admitted the publication, but denied that they were actuated by malice, and asserted that the article in question was true in substance and fact, while thoy also claimed that the publication was privileged as a matter of truth' and fail comment upon a subject of public interest. After two hours' deliberation the jury returned a verdict for plaintiffs, awarding a farthing damages, without costs. A Gazette will probably be issued to-day, further proroguing the Parliament for a month, and at the expiratiou of that term it is expected as all the ministers will be here that the date of calling Parliament together for the despatch of business will bo decided. The representation commission is making good progress in readjusting the district, and it is understood that a draft sketch is already completed. The Government have decided not to send any mining exhibits to the Mining Exhibition at the Crystal Palace, but it being understood that a Mining Conference will lie held at the same time this colouy will be represented, though it is not yet known whether anyone will be sent from New ZeaUnd or a representative be chosen in London.