SLANDER ALLEGED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 229, 27 September 1930, Page 20

SLANDER ALLEGED.

SOLICITOR'S CLAIM FAILS. DALMATIAN CLIENT SUED. MAGISTRATE GRANTS NONSUIT. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) DARGAVILLE, Friday. An allegation of tlie use by a Dalmatian farmer of slanderous statements concerning the integrity and professional ability of a local solicitor was tbe basis of an action for damages brought before Mr. G. N. Morris, S.M., to-day. The case was a sequel to a land drainage dispute, which engaged tbe attention of the Court some months ago. Plaintiff was Wm. Anderson Beattie, solicitor, who claimed £150 damages from Joseph Vuletich, farmer, *of Turiwiri. Plaintiff appeared in person, and defendant was represented by Mr. F. S.i Goulding. Giving evidence, plaintiff said that hej had acted for Nicholas Lulich in con-' nection with a drainage dispute for some time, and defendant had been acting as interpreter. Various delays had occurred in processes connected with the drainage dispute, which had been an extremely complicated one. Witness maintained that although lie had

advised Lulich and Vuletich repeatedly what to do in order to approach a ■settlement, his advice had not been taken. He advised them to get the services of another practical farmer to advise them upon drainage problems. Ho told thein that that would have been cheaper than litigation. On July 19, said witness, the defendant, with his friend Lulich, was in witness' office in connection with the drainage case. A document had been delayed by the other side on account of illness, and Vuletich had said that witness did not know bis business, that he was no good as a lawyer, and that be I had received money from Mr. Mitchell, solicitor, in order to drag tbe thing 011 for his (witness') benefit, or, rather, for the mutual benefit of both. "Similar statements regarding other solicitors had been • made to me previously by the same man," witness said, "and I was afraid that such statements might be repeated elsewhere. I asked for an apology, which was not forthcoming from defendant. On the contrary, he endeavoured to persuade Lulich to leave my office with him, I insisted that in future matters Lulich should employ as interpreter the Yugoslav Consul, Mr. J. Totich, who acts very well indeed for his countrymen." After a long hearing, plaintiff was nonsuited, with costs £S 6/6.