Opotiki Notes.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 536, 25 November 1890, Page 2

Opotiki Notes.

ALLEGED CRIMINAL LIBEL. (raosi oua ows coBBasroHDiKT.) Opotiki, yesterday; Mr Kelly had an enthusiastic meeting heca Ou Saturday. A vote of confidenoe wa# unanimously proposed. He la a very strong favorite here. He speaks at Whakatane tonight. The case Wille v. Bates, criminal libel, oon-.es oh to-day. M r Theodore Cooper and Mr Elliot are for the informant. A great deal » of feeling has been aroused over the affair, Later, The libel action, Rev. T. 3. Wills (formerly of Gisborne) v. Mr Stewart Bates, proprietor of the Qpotiki Herald, name on this morning. Mr Theodore Cooper (of Auckland) appeared with Mr Elliot (of Opotiki) for the prosecution, and Mr B. N. Jones (of Gisborne) conducted the defence. Messrs Beckett, Reid and King, Jus'-ioes, occupied the Bench, The action is the outoome of some strong comments that the Herald has bean making, and there ie great local feeling on th* matter, There was a large crowd in Court and keen interest taken in the case, The nature of the articles made the defence a difficult one considering the state of tho libel Jaws, bflt Mr Jones made a capital fight lot the defence. After a severe struggle by counsel, the jus. tices felt that they must commit Mr Bates for trial. That would mean that the use would have been carried to the Supreme Court at Auckland, and there was then a renewal of the fight, counsel for the defenoe being successful in getting a remand until Monday. Mr Jooes is being complimented on all sides, by friend and opponent alike, for tfie way in which he conducted th# defence.