Sixty Years Ago

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21608, 20 March 1940, Page 6

Sixty Years Ago

“ The Timaru Herald ” March 20, 1880

Native Parliament The Native Parliament at Orakei was opened to-day, riates an Auckland message. Paul Toheri presided. Mr R. Dehierry was retained as interpreter. A number of Europeans were present. Paul opened the proceedings in a lengthy speech, and handed round a printed programme of subjects for delibera’./cn. The most important items already telegraphed are: subsidies to chiefs, free passes, food and medicine, a demand for exclusion from Road Board taxation, and that they should have six instead of four representatives in Parliament. The speech making was postponed till to-morrow.

Successful Damages Claim At the Wellington District Court this aftrenoon the case of Mould v. Walker and another, owners of the D'Arcy Pratt, was heard. The action was to recover the sum of £2OO for injuries sustained by the plaintiff through the alleged negligence of the defendants, whereby a piece of timber on the wharf at Wellington was blown on top of plaintiff with sufficient force to break his leg and to inflict other injuries. Judgment was given for the plaintiff with ecsts.

Early Libel Action The action for libel, G. G. Stead v. the Directors of The Otago Daily Times and Witness Company Ltd. was tried at the Resident Magistrate's Court at Christchurch before His Worship, Mr L. Mellish and Mr John Olliver. After a long argument between counsel as to are necessity of all the defendants being present, it was decided, after hearing what evidence could then be ta' an, to adjourn till Monday. Mr Fenwick was the only defendant present. Mr Spackman appeared for complainant and Mr Garric’- for the defendants.

Riot and Assault At tie Timaru Resident Magistrate's Court before His Worship the Mayor and Mr E. H. G. Stericker, James McLeish, Charles Bull, Robert Nesbitt, William Hall, Alfred Hall, John Mann, John Cook, Walter Griffiths George Finlay. Henry Nichols end Alexander Waugh, were brought up in custody, charged on the information of George Orr that they did, on the 18th inst., “unlawfully, riotously and routously assemble an'’ gather together to disturb the public peace, and did then unlawfully, riotously and routously and tumultuously make a great noise riot and tumult to the great terror : 1 disturbanc- of Her Majesty's

subjects .... and did then and there unlawfully, riotously, routously and tumultuously assault one William Redfern .... and him. the said William Rrdfern, did then and there wound and ill-treat etc. etc ". Mr Perry conducted the prosecution and Mr Hamersley defended the accused. It was intimated that a cross-actic.i McLeish v. Redfern and others would t? brought aft~r this one was concluded. The prosecut.on concluded its care at 5.30 p.m. and the accused were remanded till the following day. They were allowed bail both in this case and in the cross-action.