Title: Typo: A Monthly Newspaper and Literary Review, Volume 4, Issue 38 (22 February 1890)

Editor: Robert Coupland Harding

In: Typo: A Monthly Newspaper and Literary Review, Volume 4

Publication details: Robert Coupland Harding, 1890, Wellington

Part of: Typo

License: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 New Zealand Licence

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Charles Augustus Wilkins, « formerly of Auckland, and well-known in journalistic circles, » who left his wife and children in New Zealand destitute, has been charged in Melbourne with bigamy, and committed for trial.

The Woodville Examiner machine is now run by a kerosine engine imported from the States.—A copy of this enterprising journal containing the account of the local jubilee festivities, specially printed on satin, has been forwarded to her gracious Majesty. Thus does the ruler of a mighty nation unconsciously figure as an advertisement for a bush newspaper!

A district council at Adelaide has taken a strange and original kind of revenge on a newspaper-man. He had been writing pretty strongly about the depredations of stray cows, and the neglect of the local body in the matter. They decided that they would give him the task of keeping the cows in order, and accordingly passed a resolution appointing him a special constable, and sent him a notice to the effect, together with an intimation fixing the time for his being sworn, and receiving his badge, truncheon, and handcuffs. His first impulse was to refuse the proffered honor, but on making inquiries he ascertained that such a course rendered him liable to a fine of £20, and he ultimately decided to obey the mandate.

A curious libel case has lately been decided in Melbourne. An accountant named Atkinson was arrested in September on a warrant, charged with embezzling the funds of the Anglo-Indian Trading Company, and an item to that effect appeared in all the Melbourne papers. Subsequently the Attorney-General (acting as Grand Jury) found no bill against him. He then « went for » the papers, claiming £500. The Argus compromised for £70. The Age referred him to its solicitors, and the case was heard on the 19th December. The plaintiff's books were produced, and grave irregularities appeared, for which he could not account. His manner in the box was impudent and defiant. The sole fact in his favor was that the company's affairs were muddled to such an extent that they did not venture to pay money into the bank lest it should be impounded for overdraft. After a two days' hearing, the jury gave a verdict for £100! What success Mr Atkinson has had with the Telegraph we do not know.