HEARING OF APPEAL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 89, 14 March 1934, Page 2

HEARING OF APPEAL.

Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, March 14. The hearing of the case, Boddie v. Sievwriglit, was continued in the Court of Appeal this morning. The appeal arises out of an action for slander brought by the appellant Boddio against the respondent Sievwriglit, and beard before Mr Justice Ostler in June last. Mr Weston submitted that the damages awarded (amounting to only three farthings) had been assessed upon an erroneous principle of law. Tho trial Judge had wrongly relied upon specific acts of misconduct and bad not considered evidence of the general reputation of appellant, Boddie. Mr C. Evaris-Scott, junior counsel for appellant, submitted that the trial Judge should have taken into account the manner in which the injury had been aggravated by the conduct of respondent, Sievwriglit. _ Not only were the libels of a very serious nature, but they had been published in an irresponsible and malicious manner. He submitted that there was absolutely no evidence to support the suggestion of blackmail mentioned in the judgment of Mr Justice Ostler. Opening the case for respondent, Mr O’Leary submitted that the only question which concerned the Court of Appeal was as to whether the damages allowed by the trial Judge, amounting in all to three farthings, were reasonable, considering the- evidence given as to appellant’s character and as to the pecuniary loss sustained by him as a result of the slanders.