A LIBELLOUS LETTER.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 143, 15 June 1909, Page 7

A LIBELLOUS LETTER.

NEWSPAPER PUBLISHER HAS TO . APOLOGISE. [PKESS ASSOCIATION.! DUNEDIN, June 14. A case set down for Mr Justice Williams and jury this morning was one in which Robert Hewitson, a farmer of Lovell's Flat, claimed £200 damages from James Christie, publisher of the Bruce Herald, for alleged libel. There was at the time a Couritv Council election on. and Jasper Clark was one of the candidates. Concerning his candidature a letter appeared in the Bruce Herald signed "Crichton Riding Electors," in which sentences occurred which, it was alleged, seriously reflected on the^character of Hewitson, who was supporting Clark's candidature. When the case was called on to-day it was stated that a settlement had been made, the defendant agreeing to pay the plaintiff £50 and costs and print an apology in the paper. Mr Solomon, K.C., who appeared for the defendant, said that the letter appeared without the latter's knowledge, v and when approached he offered to apologise and make N remuneration to settle the _ affair, but the amount was not considered sufficient. He felt satisfied that the allegations of misconduct were without Foundation, and the defendant had not sought in any way to defend his action.