WELLINGTON, Sept. 1.

Timaru Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4913, 2 September 1890, Page 3

WELLINGTON, Sept. 1.

Tho calendar for the oriminal sossion, which oponorl this morning, contains tho mimos of flftoin porsons. In his address to tho grand jury, Mr Justice Prendorgast Biiid tho charges wore mostly of an ordinary nature. In i\ oaso m which a man is charged with oxhibiling m his window a plaoanl maligning tho charactor of nnot.hor person, Hib Honour pointed out that tho publication of all matter of v defamatory natiiro was oithor indictable or notionable. If a libol wbb commiMofl m privato.for instanco, whero (inly two parsons woro concornod, tho jury would bo juiliilod m throw

. ing out the indictment, hut if the public were 7 affected by Hie mattfr then the jury should 3 bring m a true bill. He did not pretend to ) say urnler which category tho present cobo • should come. The theory of the luw was I that cases of defamution of diameter Bhould • be indie! ablo, as they wcro calculated to proI v&ke a breach of tho peace, and olso because ' very often the person making uee of libellous I statements had no means, and therefore an I 1 action for damages would be useless.