The Waikato Argus [PUBLISHED DAILY.] A Guaranteed Circulation of Over 6000 Weekly. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1902.

Waikato Argus, Volume XIII, Issue 1355, 12 September 1902, Page 2

The Waikato Argus [PUBLISHED DAILY.] A Guaranteed Circulation of Over 6000 Weekly. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1902.

Each session of Parliament for many years past a Bil! to amend the law cf libel has been introduced and as regularly thrown out. In conseq'ence the Press is considerably hampered in the performance of its legitimate functions. The Bill which has been introduced this session by Mr Carncross only proposes to grant to the Press the same privileges and protection which is enjoyed by the Press of the Old Country and several of her offshoots. The public are not aware of the restrictions which the law places upon newspapers, otherwi.se it would be so clear to them that they are the sufferers that they would insist upon an alteration in the law. They do not know, for instance, that the law is thus laid down by a leading judge, who said : ' The law does not protect newspapers even if the alleged defamatory matter was a correct account of what took place in a court of justice, even if by publication a plaintif-' was held up to public disgrace < r scandal, dc- '

famed his character, or sot him I before tin; world as a dishonest man.' This means I hat the greatest criminal, if he escapes prison by a legal technicality or the stupidity of a jury, can bring an action against any newspaper which publilies the proceedings at his trial, notwithstanding that the report may Ix 3 accurate in every particular. A'-ain. a newspaper is liable for publishing tlie proceedings ut a public meeting, notwithstanding that the report is accurate in every respect and published in the interests of the public. The action would be tried by a jury, which might or might not give damages. In any case tire paper would be mulcted in costs. The Uill before the House is with the object of relieving the Piess from these restrictions upon its liberty. The second clause makes reports of proceedings in Court, if published contemporaneously with such proceedings, absolutely privileged, provided that the report docs not contain any blasphemous or indecent matter. Clause 3 enacts that a fair and accurate report of the proceedings of a public meeting, of any meeting of a public body formed or constituted under the provisions of any Act of Parliament, is privileged. The protection intended by this section not to he available as a defence in any proceedings, if it shall be proved that the defendant has been requested to insert in tlie newspapers in which the report appeared a reasonable letter or statement l.y way of contradiction or explanation, and lias refused or neglected to insert the same, provided that nothing contained in the section shall protect the publication, of any matter not of public concern and the publication of which is not for the public benefit. The sixth clause enacts that no criminal prosecution shall be, commenced against any newspaper for a libel published therein without the order of a Judge in chambers being first had and obtained, the person accused to have notice to attend. It can fairly be claimed for the Press of New Zealand that the protection asked by the Bill could be granted with advantage to the public. The papers published in this colony are of as high a class as any to be found in any country. With very few exceptions those who conduct them have a keen sense of justice and propriety; they also know that to run a newspaper on any but respectable lines is to ensure its downfall. Occasionally there have been interlopers into the ranks of New Zealand journalism who have been wanting in these qualities, hut their papers have soon died, and those who have run them have found employment in directions better suited to their mental capacity. For the sins of such interlopers it is surely unjust that all should suffer.

The St, Ledger, run in England on the 10th inst., waa won by Sceptre, with Rising Glass second and Friar Tuck third. The mounted parade of the No. 3 Company, Waikato Mouoted n 11.-.", Called for to-morrow (Saturday), has been postponed until further notic. A meeting of the Cambridge Golf Club will be held in St. Andrew's School, Cambridge, on Satutday, at 230 p.m., to ballot for che election of new members. The members of the Paterangi Ride Club will assemble at the Paterangi range on Saturdiy next to tire for the handsome t up ptesented to the Clubby Mr U.M. R iss. The con.petition will commence at 10 o'clock sharp. Messrs Edgecumbo and Wheeler report the sale ot Mr P. Lamb's property in Hood-street, Hamilton, 60ft x 120 ft, to Mr J. E. Falconer, who waa for many years with the firm of Reid and Guy. We understand that it is his intention to build and start business as a supplier of implements, machinery, and general farm requisites. The price of fat cattle and sheep is still keeping up well in the Syduey market, and ts likely to do so for some months to come. The top price realised so far for fat cattle sent from Auckland ia £29 15a for a steer bred and fattened by Mr W. Wight, of Paeroa, a fat heifer from the same breeder making £l9 ss. These cattle were sent over by Messrs McNicol and Co., whose enteipriso in the exp ut of fat slock baa materially assisted Waikato graziers. An interesting sight will shortly be added to the attractions ot the Lrrencra Country, into whose foiest recesses r Government road was recently constructed from the Galatea Plains. The l'uiioe natives of that te. riiory are now engaged in buildin4 a fighting-pah of the 01-r Maori style at Mataatua, the central village of the district. Tire objects ol the natives (who are being assisted and encouraged in their work by Mr Els lon ,'lcst, the Government agent in the Orewcra Country), is to preserve for future years as pei tect an example as possiii e of tlie old-time fu: titrations ot their people. Two men met with severe injuries in Auckland yesterday m uning through an accident which occurred on hoatd the steamer Titauia, lying at the Queen street wharf. Preparatory lo commencing discharging the cirgo two lumpers named J. Coopia and J. Downs, the former a married man, living iu Osboine street, jNewmarke - , and the latter a single man residing in Parnell, were lifting hatches off the after*hold, when one of the supporting bats collapsed, aud precipitated the men inta the hold. booms' leg was broken by the fall, and he was taken to the hospital, where the leg was set.J JHe is progressing favourably. Downsjwas cut about the eyes, mouth and ear After the wounds had been .stitched he was taken to his home. His injuiies are not considered to be very serious. Last evening the third and last ' parish social ' of the season wis held in St. Andrew's Church schoolroom at Cambridge, and it proved very enjoyable. The Misses Skeet, Payze and Hardin (2) contributed piano ducts ; Misses Onion and A. Hanlin played violin solos ; Mr Sanders (a visitor) gave a mandolin solo, for which he waa encored ; Mrs Polwarth, Misses Willis and R Skaet, and Messrs Maddison and Houi lon sang ; aud Maste." Teddy Wall recited. Dur'ng an interval in the prrceeding* Archdeacon Willis explained what tlie alteiations would be if the Parochial D.strict was formed into a parish, and, on the motion ef Mr Wells, it was resolved to take the necessary steps to get the change made. It is nearly a quarter of a century since Cambridge was made a Parochial District, and during that time Mr Willis has been in charge. Worms undermine children's constitut;cns. Wade's Wohm Figs, one shilling boxes.

As a means of bringing the scenic li -aiiM. h of tii s col ny immu.ii I'cly under t'e ,y ( . of (be pei.l abroidvlii may f. el inclined to travel and bum the natural woudii* f r themselves, tlie Tourist D atM-m* has ado; ted the idea or n.-ing special y p. pared notepaper and envelopes containing bird's eye views of Bc-ne y and emblematical of native life. A 1 tinted number of these wil be uvailab e to those who n.srre to communicate with fi i> nd; abroad On the Kiawaka Station, Hawke's Bay, there are some unusual experiences this lambing sea-on. One ewe gave birth to no fewer six lambs, though they did not all s-urvive. A peculiar monstrosity w s :ilso found in the shape of a lamb with two bodies, eigt t leys, and two tails, but only one neck ana head. The head was tho most peculiar pirt, having four eyes, two months and four ears, the e.irs uudcr the 10-\e'' jaws. At Kinohaku, on Kawhia Harbour, the mdiments ate now being formd of the first township on the south side-of the harbour. In Kiuolatu tlnio is a'ready a pest office, store, hoardingh ti.-c and butcher's th p. Some distance from the landing place a pa>ty of men are clerring a 6ft track to admit of packing ud to the bash sections recently balloted for and now occupied Kinohaku promises to be a busy and thriving township in the near future, as it is the imtird outlet to the harbour for the Kawhia South lands. The N.S.S. Co. have raised the pissenger fares to Wbangarei aud there is much growling in consequence iu that growing district. The reasons niv;n by the ioj.l agent, are, that recent awards of the Arbitration Court will increa-e the Company's expenses by £6OO to £7OO per annum. A'so that the Workmen's '3 inpensition Act has cndd-rably added to the annuil wage sheet. And that til? Accid mt» Insurance Companies' lates fo;eam, ii, firemen, etc, ate very h-gli. People, vi ho b indiy support the preot lit. class of legislation should remember that eventually they have to pay lor it and pre'.ty stilly too. All these theoretical model laws that have been passed during the last fw years cannot be carried out without so'i.i- i.lass 'paying the piper,' aed so f..r ir, all has come back on the prune piodttcer. C;ty populations bolstered up at the expense of the country 1 A peculiar incident in connection with the for the pugilistic champion ship of the world iu San Franoi-vo, at the end of July last, was the fact that Mr W. W. Naughton, a ntted sporting writer, gave a sealed latter in advance to Mayor Schmetz telling him how the right would end This, in connection with the sudden collapse of Fitz wh-n he was apparently winning, and the significant fact that certain persona from Los Angeles, Jeffries's home, and Hirbtn Springs, where the champion trained, wagered with great confidence that JefTiea would end the fight in the eighth round, gave rise to the feeling that the tight might have been a swindle. One paper eay< Jeffries and Fitzrimtr ous are either the victims of the most remarkable serins of crincidences that ever condemned men fUsely or have swindled the spotting public by the most barefaced fake ever enacted in the prize-ring SYNOPSIS OP ADVERTISEMENTS. For sale : Onions, fine sample. Mr J. Knox. An advertiser wishes to lease a small dairy farm. Wanted : A lady help or giil about sixteen, Matangi. The parade of Wa kato Mounted Rifles, No, 3 Company, called for to-morrow, is postponed. Mr W, J. Hunter holds his special horse sale at Ohaupo about the middle of next month. Tenders are invited by the Education Hoard for additions to the teacher's bouse, Cambridge West. Meeting of Cambridge members of the Waikato A. and P. Association at the' Public Hall, Cambridge, at 2 p.m. tomorrow (Saturday). Stmt notices: The Clydesdale stallion l.ochaber and the thoroughbred stalliou St. Crispin will stand the seasoi at Hautapu. The champion stallion Ben More will stand at Lochiel Strides and travel Ohaupo, Oreen Hill, and Te Awamutu districts ; the draught colt Green flill Laddie will travel Hamilton, Tamahere, Hautapu, and Cambridge districts ; the draught stallion Chief Commander will travel the Pukerimu, Puk.kura, Matigapika, liangiaohia, and Pirougia district*; the draught stalli.n Master Deans will travel the Te Rorr, Tuhikarumea, Whatawhata, Ngaruawahia, aud Karamu districts; the roadster stallion Lochiel will travel tbe Ohaupo, Ngaroto, Te Awamutu, Kibikihi, and Pateraugi districts.