A WELLINGTON LIBEL CASE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 899, 19 September 1879, Page 2

A WELLINGTON LIBEL CASE.

Our telegrams lately mentioned that Mr. Hutchinson, the Mayor of Wellington, and one oi the candidates for that city, had taken proceedings for libel against the New Zealand Times, claiming £5000 damages. Addressing the electors, he referred to this as the first action he had ever taken against a newspaper, and stated that he had been driven to it by the false and damaging statements of the paper in question. The following is an extract from the article complained of which appeared in the New Zealand Times of 23rd August : — "We do not care much about Mr. Hutchinson's political opinions, hej can take them on and off as easy as an old glove. ' He has no character to lose, and he would be quite prepared to say one thing to-day and another to-morrow if it suited him. He is an adventurer of the most easily recognised type, ane although Mayor of the city, we ard morally certain that if he is retained in office the citizens will live to regret it. His dishonest dealing with the reclaimed land sections, his very doubtful transections with the bankrupt Mr. Everest, and his unlawful appointment of a wharf official, are all quite new and recent instances of his disregard for the law of the land, and the chances are that they will not be long left without some other illegal acts to keep them company." On the writ being issued, some negotiations followed, with the object .of ascertaining what form of retraction and public apology would be accepted by Mr. Hutchison. Ultimately, it vjas agreed that on the publication in the Wellington journals, and the payment of all legal costs by the proprietors of the Times, the action would be withdrawn. Subjoined is the document. PUBLIC APOLOGY. The proprietors and publishers of the New Zealand Times have had legal proceedings taken against them by Mr. Hutchison for libel. These proceedings are founded upon an article which appeared in the leading columns of the Times of the 22nd of August, and charged Mr. Hutchison with — (1) "Dishonest dealing with the reclaimed land sections." (2) " "Very doubtful transactions with the bankrupt Mr. Everest ;" and (3) " Unlawful appointment of a wharf official," these being referred to as " instances of his disregard for the law of the land." The proprietors and publishers of the Times desire to say that the article in question was not written with any feeling of express malice towards Mr, Hutchison, and they have now reason to believe that the statements made were unfounded. The proprietors and publishers of the Times can only express regret that language should have been used which was not justified by the facts. The proprietors and publishers of the Times need only further assure Mr. Hutchison that reference was made to' him merely as « politician, and that there waß no intention of suggesting personal dishonesty.