SUPREME COURT.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 2886, 10 December 1898, Page 3

SUPREME COURT.

— ~* — — ■ 1 Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, December 9. In the libel action James Wilkinson y. Joseph Pardington, arising from what is known as " the old windmill pam- , phlet," plaintiff was awarded £100 and ' Coßtß. DUNEDIN, December 9. The Supreme Court was engaged today with the libel action Murrell v. Gilkison, an action to recover £500 1 damages. The case arises out of a disp ute in connection with Cromwell Hospital. Murrell, the plaintiff, was chairman of the trustees, and m what was purported to be a report of the meeting, by the Cromwell correspondent of the Dunstan Times, of which defendant is proprietor, it was alleged that Murrell i presented a personal bill of costs from a > barrister for £33, incurred m defending I his position as chairman, and wanted i the Trustees to pay the costs, and it was alleged that he said that he would not sit unless they were paid. The correspondent, m commenting on this, said, • among other things, that the chairman s was putting a price on his personal i action, and that such a state of affairs 3 was a scandal and disgrace to the dist rict. The defenca was chiefly justificat tion and fair comment. The action t really turns upon whether the report is t a fair one of what occurred at the sitting, while the press representatives had been asked to retire, Mr Justice Pennefather, remarking that if defendant could establish the facts, it would require a good deal to convince him that the comments were not justified. After b hearing the evidence, His Honour reserved his decision.