PROPRIETORS 'TAPANUI COURIER' v. JAS. PATERSON.

Mataura Ensign, Issue 1169, 14 April 1903, Page 2

PROPRIETORS 'TAPANUI COURIER' v. JAS. PATERSON.

TO THB EDITOR. Sm,—ln a recent issue you reprinted from the ' Tapanui Courier' a report of the above case. It is unusual for solicitors to comment upon newspaper reports of cases in which they are interested, but as I consider the report scarcely fair I beg to bring under your notice the following facts. Mr Paterson, in 18118, there being no Warden's Court at Tapanui, lodged on behalf of companies several applications for special claims in the Court at Tapanui. He wished the applications inserted in a Gore paper on the ground that the ' Courier' did not circulate in Waikaka Valley. Ultimately he agreed to their being inserted in the ' Courier' if copies of the papers containing the applications were sent to each applicant. This was done, and the paper continued being sent to Mr Paterson and others. In January, 189 a, Mr Paterson wrote a letter instructing Messrs Quin and Roger not to continue sending the paper. In spite of this the paper was gent, and it was only by Mr Paterson refuging delivery at the post office that the paper was ultimately stopped. The proprietors sued Mr Pdterson for subscriptions up to February, 1902, and at the first hearing of the case Mr Paterson produced a bundle of ' Couriers ' unopened, but the case was struck out as plaint note was not signed. The proprietors again sued Mr Paterson for subscriptions up to February 3rd, 1902, being £3 0s 6d. Mr Quin, in support of his claim, said that there was a custom that no subscriber could stop a paper nptil he had forwarded big cheque up to date with a formal notice of discontinuance. The Magistrate over ruled this, and gave judgment for 16s 6d, being the subscription up to the time that Mr Paterson swore he gave notice to discontinue. I might mention that Mr Paterson never saw anyone connected with the' Courier' to order the paper, but the Magistrate held that he had instructed the Clerk of the Court to order the paper.— Fours, etc., W. P. Ihdeiu