Original Correspondence. A MILTON REMONSTRANCE.

Clutha Leader, Volume IV, Issue 161, 10 August 1877, Page 2

Original Correspondence. A MILTON REMONSTRANCE.

TO THfl EDITOR.

Sin, — Allow one of your subscribers to trouble you by asking you to insert a few remarks with reference to the extraordinary conduct of the Editor of the Bruce Herald.

I notice in his paper of the f3lst July there appears amongst the " locals" the following : — " At a special meeting of the Milton Town Council, held last night, thero were present — His Worship the Mayor (W. J. Dyer), and Councillors M'Laren, Stewart, and Capstick. The only business before the meeting was to receive the resignation of Councillor Capstick, which was accepted — the usual fine to be remitted. The nomination of a candidate to fill Councillor Capstick's place is fixed for Wednesday, Bth instant. , and tho election for the Monday following." You will see by the next paragraph but one where that ' innocent, much-abused, just, moral, philanthropic, truthful, and infallible Editor has departed from his usual mild criticism, in order to denounce a poor penny-a-liner who never did him t any harm. The following is the paragraph referred to : — " Wo have evidently a prophetic reporter an one of the numerous newspaper correspondents in Milton. In last Friday's Evening Star, under the heading of Tokomairiro, it was stated : — c At a meeting of the Town Council, Mr Capstick's resignation as Councillor was accepted.' The meeting, however, never took place. Mr Cax>stick's resignation will not take place, wo understand, until to-morrow night. This starling piece of intelligence was not of much importance, but this stylo of ' reporting" might prove dangerous." Now, Mr Editor, I would ask what state were the brains of that wonderful, infallible Editor — the Editor of the Bruce Herald— in, when he penned the last paragraph, stating Councillor Capstick's resignation would not take place until the following night, when in the same paper he gives a report stating that at a meeting held the previous night, Councillor Capstick tendered his resignation, and it was accepted, remitting the usual fine. Now, Sir, I am a subscriber to both the Bruce Herald and your valuable paper, and as the Leader avoids envious, scurrilous, personal, and malicious remarks, I ask you only for this once to indulge me in a little wholesome advice to that most renowned individual, not only in his character as an Editor, but as a very valiant hero. Well then, his whole aim as a journalist — God save the mark ! — seems to be to find out all the imperfections and failings of human nature for the delectation of his readers, who must now be getting very few in numbers. Like the vulture he revels in all that is vile and filthy, and after he has thus gorged his stomach, he spreads a moral pestilence over our fair | plain twice everj 7 ' week. But this man is discriminating in his reporting. Ho carefully excludes all the very extraordinary and questionable exploits of which he is himself tho hero. Did he not tln*ottle one mighty and strong man in his office, making him cry aloud for assistance, when the knight of the bellows and anvil had to ■ take the impregnable stronghold of the Bruce Herald by storm, succeeding, by battering down the editor's door, in relieving the distressed and innocent giant, that could have taken the present Editor in his arms and smacked his posterior,

same as tho dominies .used to belabour schoolboys in my schoolgoing days. Then again, this noble and valiant Editor, not many months ago, collared a small, diminutive individual who was employed as scribe ih that emporium of knowledge and wisdom, and unrivalled printing Establish-ment--tho Bruce Herald, Milton • at tho same time calling out loudly for his sateh lites of fame — one being noted as the unrivalled compositor of both type and music, tho other being unrivalled both in. steam pressing and poetising. Well, would your readers believe it, they tho throe valiant heroes of the scissors, the musical Adonis, and the controller of the Press? bundled the little scribe into a small room and locked him in. " Oh, the little wretch we have him safe," they all called out after recovering from the mighty struggle and after tho danger was over. After a short time, they the three redoubted warriors returned to visit the immortal scribe, I when, on opening the door, lo and behold | he had vanished. This redoubtable Edi* tor, during my acquaintance' with him receiyed a speech that a celebrated Government official intended to make (at some place, the writer has forgot where,) and published it in his universal and truthful journal. Well, the speech was never de* livered ; but it was published and read by thousands, and reprinted in other papers far and wide. And this immaculate Edi* tor has the impertinence and barefaced audacity to threaten a poor penny-a-liner if he makes a mild mistake (unless he con* lines himself to writing for the Brtico Herald alone). I see the Herald of to-day says the regular monthly meeting of the Matau Road Board was held yesterday, and gives a report of the meeting. Now I have just learned from a member that there was no such meeting. This is an» other instance of the truthfulness of the Herald, and yet the Editor talks of pro* phetic reporting. I noticed a sale advertised in the Herald by a local auctioneer which came off lately. In one place of the advertisement the hour of sale was three o'clock, in another place two o'clock. I aslccd the auctioneer which hour was the right one. His reply was "Oh ! three o'clock, to be sure." I pointed out to him the advertisement, and asked him what it meant. His reply was, "Oh! that is nothing ; sometimes they leave out the dates altogether."

Then, again, has not this man who presumes to call himself an editor done all in liis power constantly to revile tho private and political character and^usefuh ness ol our representative in parliament 1 He knows that Mr Murray was elected for Bruce out of a leet of as good men as are in parliament. He was again re-elected without opposition. Every one was certain he would be returned wdioever came forward to oppose, and, therefore, no ono dared to contest the election, notwithstanding the frantic efforts of thb Herald. Mr Murray has frequently met his constituents, and has invaribly received a vote of full confidence. Yet the Editor of the Herald says the district is unrepresented. He has alljalong said the people want Mr Murray to resign, and now says a petition is being signed in' the town and district requesting him to do so. Would you believe that there is not one word of truth in all this ! It is all done by this Editor, simply to annoy Mr Murray and to destroy his influence by getting the paragraphs copied into other papers. No one would believe them if read in the Herald only. lam bound to say that if Mr Murray were to resign tomorrow he would again be elected without opposition. The electors know his worth, and the interest he takes in everything concerning the district, and would to a man again vote for him. The Editor of the Herald knows this, and yet insists in publishing the vilest reports to the contrary. Mr Murray is a gentleman, and thus is beyond the reach of anything that can emanate from the Bruce Herald. The Editor may as well blaze away at the moon. There is an atmosphere of true hearty, healthy public opinion intervening between the Herald and Mr Murray, through which tlie pellets of the former can never penetrate. At the same time we suffer, and public and private morality suffers through the falsehood and filth that is constantly put in circulation throughout the plain. The district is made the receptacle of all tho envy, strife, evil-speaking, iniquity, and backbiting, ■ that is going on in any part of the country. The Leader, and other papers exclude that which is false, slanderous and vile, and, hence it is all bundled off to tlie Herald, where it is eagerly sought and hashed up for us bi-weekly. Now, sir, I wish to tell the Editor of the Bruce Herald plainly that the people of Tokomairiro have stood this thing long enough, and are determined they will not stand it any longer. We do not like the idea of tlie district being left without a local paper, and many of us reverence the former character and name of the Herald but it has now been degraded to even loathing. We have remonstrated both publicly and privately, but havo only been rewarded by insult and slander. It only remains with us as a body to follow the example of the many Avho now will not allow the paper to enter their doors. I have thus plainly and truthfully told the Editor what is tho feeling of every one in this district, and the resolution will speedily be carried out unless a radical change is at once made. It is just possible that for my plain speak* ing I may be treated to a slanderous and venemous personal attack by the Editor of the Herald, but if he does so, I may tell liim there will bo no actions for libel with me. I clo not fear his boasted scientific " tripping," and I warn him I am no pigmy, and although he has had several horse-whippings before now ho will have good cause to remember the cow-hiding that shall be his reward for any interference with me. If is two satellites, already referred to, should interfere, I warn them they shall find me a match for the three. Now, sir, I earnestly ask that for the sake of your many friends in the district you will publish this remonstrance. I know it may be condemned by yoin 1 readers elsewhere, where our case, and the strong feeling that exists hero are not known. But you havo numerous readers here, and I am sure they will all appreciate and approve what I have said, and it may" do us some servico for tho future. It & the first time I havo asked the favour from you, and I trust you wdll grant it.— l am, etc..

A Hater of Malicious Editors, Milton, 7th August, 1877.