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Western Star, Issue 9, 10 January 1874, Page 6

In charging the jury in the libel case, Sealey v. “The Napier Telegraph,” Judge Johnston said ;—“ Much misapprehension existed in regard to libel, as if people connected with newspapers should enjoy an immunity from punishment if they broke the law which no other people possessed. For himself, he had a great reverence for the Press. In a new country like this, where now experiments were constantly being made, the protection of a free Press was of very great importance. A bold and fearless Press would no doubt find it very difficult at times to carry out successfully its object, without laying itself open to actions of this nature. In the old days, truth was not held to be a justification of libel ; but, in these later days, truth was a justification, although it would be necessary to prove, not only that the libel was tine, but that it was in the interests of the public that it had been published.” The Dunedin morning papers publish the following interesting particulars about the Californian mail service, evidently furnished by Mr. Vogel:—Mr. Hall has connected himself with S. Forbes, the senior partner in the wealthy China house of Eussell and Company, also Mr. do * Busche, part owner of the Tartar and Mongol, a man of great wealth and high reputation, largely connected with the steam shipping trade between England and China. Others are also concerned. The have contracted for building two new boats on the Clyde, and two at Sunderland, guaranteed to run 12 knots an hour, and of an average of 3,000 tons. The Tartar leaves Sydney on the 15th January : and the Crytheues leaves Auckland in time to reach Kandavau by the 21st February, connecting with the Mr. Hall wanted 24 hours at Auckland, but 12 was considered sufficient. The question "is not yet settled. Thore will be a stoppage at Napier of five hours, twelve at Wellington, and twelve at Lyttelton. Auckland will be the coaling port for New Zealand. It. is considered that the service . will be superior to anything hitherto seen nr tho Australian colonies. Mr. Thomas Russell had been ill, and was ordered to the ContincpL A A young lady in Nashville is changing h‘A' views somewhat relative to the question of (matrimony. She says that when she ‘ came out ’ in society she determined she would not marly a man unless he was an Episcopalian. Time passed on, and she did not get married, and then modified her views, and concluded she would marry no man unless he was a Christian. That young , lady is. still unmarried, and says now all she is, looking for is a man who doesn’t drink whisky v ■