CHRISTCHURCH. January 24.

North Otago Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2685, 25 January 1881, Page 2

CHRISTCHURCH. January 24.

The valuation of the city this year is L 224,594. This, notwithstanding many small reductions, gives an increase of L 5609, the additional number of buildinps put up during the year being very great. The amount received by the City Council for the year for drivers' and other licences was L 546 10s. A woman named Annie Ray, a rather notorious character, was found dead in a house to-day. She had all her clothes on, and had apparently been i dead 48 hours. An inquest will be held to-morrovr. A very singular case was heard at the Supremo Court to-day before Mr Justice Johnston, between Mr Ivess, proprietor of the Ashburton Mail, and Mr Crisp, a solicitor. The claim was L5OO duraajres for malicious prosecution for libel. Mr Button appeared for plaintiff, and Mr Weston for defendant. The declaration averred that defendant laid an information against plain tifF for libel, which appeared in the Ashburton Mail. The present plaintiff, who is the proprietor of the paper, and ac the time of the alleged libel was also publisher, was committed for trial, but immediately before the day of trial received notice from the defendant who is borough solicitor at Ashburton, that no bill in the case would be submitted Grand Jury. The plea was denial of all the material allegations. Mr Button opened the case, vhich he said was one of great importance as bearing Qn the *-' :-*■«• ~ f *h« Dress, and which was unique in its nature, he not being able to find in the authorities a single case exactly like it. A large amount of evidence was adduced, after which his Honor summed up, and the jury returned a verdict for plaintiff for L 25 damages and costs.