THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 1873.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1466, 16 April 1873, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 1873.

Frequently, in post-prandial speeches, the conductors of the Colonial Press are complimented upon the character of the pabulum which; they provide to the intelligent readers of their broadsheets, and, considering all the circumstances surrouuding the production of newspapers in the Colonies— r-the rarity and insignißcance of subjects of comment, the paucity of incident, and tho poor pecuniary reward which members ot " the profession " are only able to earn — the compliments are, perhaps, fairly deserved. Compared with the provincial Press in England, or with any section of the Press in America, Australasian newspapers are, as a rule, creditable productions, both with regard to their typography, and to the spirit displayed by those who conduct them or contribute to their columns ; and New Zealand newspapers can justly claim to be as " respectable " in appearance and in tone as the news-3heets of any other part of Australasia. This description applies not only to the newspapers published in inwmo whioh aror by oourfccoy desiynsil.etl cities, but also in equal degree to places which, are comparative villages, and which, ; even in the old country, would possess no better medium of diffusing information than a smithy or a barber's shop. There are, however, undoubted and lamentable exceptions to this rule. There -are localities— such as Invercargill, Blenheim, and Wanganui — where some writers for the Press seemta have concentrated; in their pens the pure spirit of Little; Pedlingtonj and who contribute princi-i pally to the diffusion of vile personalities; disguised in villainous English. It is painful to peruse what a few of our con-: temporaries arc occasionally capable of publishing in communities where it is reasonable to presume there continues to exist some sense of fair-play, if there does not exist the disposition to cow-hide the persistent propagator of libel. It seems to be taken for granted in such cases that the. possession of a printing plant involves immediate indulgence in personal abuse,, and t especially of the other man in the village who has been insane enough to invest in the same description of property.; Through this practice there are some places in New Zealand which are as perfect Eatanswills as could well be discovered 'in any part of the earth. There is a constant interchange of personalities, of the most contemptible character, variegated by. occasional abject and most humble apologies. - For abjectness aud humility in the shape of apology there is, however, nothing that we have yet seen equal to what has been perpetrated in Ross, and on the part of "the publisher" of the News. In Ros3 they are given to the quotation of mighty mottoes at the top of the leading column of their newspapers. The Guardian modestly chooses as its motto thesentence "Aut Ccesar autnullus," and the News goes in for " The Truth against the World." Accustomed to see these bold expressions daily flaunted in one's face it is rather a shock to one's sensibilities and to one's professional sympathies to find " the printer and publisher" of the News inditing or signiug such an apology as recently appeared in it 3 columns, to the disgrace of himself and the profession to which'he is by some unfortunate accident , attached. The apology was made, under pressure of proceedings in the Resident Magistrate's Court, to Mr Justin Aylmer, lato Warden in the Totara district, and , was in these words :— "Sir— Referriug to a leading article in my issue of the 3rd instant, written by myself, wherein I made certain statements and comments respecting your conduct as a Magistrate, I beg to retract them all as being false and malicious ; and I have further to apologise to you for the gross libel contained therein, and to express my deep regret that I should so far have forgotten •■ myself as to have inserted in my paper, not only upon the occasion alluded toj but upon many previous occasions, that which was untrue, and calculated to defame and injure you." To read this in columns parallel with others prominently presenting the motto "The Truth against the World"' is certainly to read one of the most anomalous apologies that we have ever 1 seen in print. Not having noticed, any of the articles to which reference is made, we cannot say how far Mr 'Coming is justified in making the confession he has: done. It may be as correct as his constant assertion that the prinr. oiplpjuponjwhich his paper, fis.oconducted b " The Truth agahfstithe World." I

may or may not be the case that he has "defamed and injured" Mr Justin Aylmer; but there can be no mistake : «bt>u.tjone thing, and that v^s that he has dorie-'his utmost to " defame and injure" Mr Richard Cuming. Mr Cnming's cup, we should imagine, is -by this^iJTOe^sufflciently full to justify thosewho are classed with him as "cortemporaries" desisting • from any comment upon his conduct. Especially is comment— unnecessary since in the columns of his own paper he i 5.... spiflicated in a manner which nothing would justify but the rare peculiarity of the circumstances. At the dictation of the " managers " of the paper, whoever they may be, an article appears in a recent'rinmber of the News in which apology is made for the apologist in a style which cannot fail to be amusing to everyone but its unfortunate subject. In this article the Neios says :'--' ' -•/:••■■ " We do not blame Mr Aylmer in the slightest ,degree for taking that . step (preferring a charge of libel against the publisher of this journal), but we must condemn the course that was adopred to attain ihe object which the solicitor, or his client, had in view — that of obtaining an apology. : In the first place; the solicitor made a proposition to the defendant that he should apologise,, and he (defendant) expressed ah inclination to do anything that was consistent to settle the matter, clen3'ing, at t!he same time, that he was actuated by any dishonorable motives in giving publicity to the article which was the cause of " defaming" the Magistrate. At the second interview, the solicitor informed defendant that i his client was willing to withdraw the charge, if he (defendant) would pay. £lo and make an apology. This defendant declined to do, and the case was brought before a Justice of the Peace on the following day (Saturday), but, on the application of defendant, was adjourried until Monday. On Sunday evening, the solicitor offered to settle the matter for L 5 and an apology, to which defendant agreed, and, later in the evening, the following agreement was given by the solicitor to defendant :— ' Re Aylmer v. Cuming (criminal information for libel). 'In consideration of Richard Cuming, the above-named defendant, agreeing to apologise to the above-named prosecutor for- the libel contained in hia issue of the 2nd instant, and to publish such apology in one issue of the Ross News, the Ross Guardian, the West Coast Times, and Grey River Argus,. and to pay the sum of five pounds sterling, I, the undersigned Justin Aylmer, do hereby agree to withdraw the information above-named. • Justin A vlmek, * By his Solicitor, • W. Morton Pubkiss. 'Dated, at Ross, this 7th day of April, A.D., 1873. By the foregoing, it will be perceived that no reference was made to anything but the article which formed the subject 1 of the 'libel,' and, therefore, the defendant considered that, he would not be expected to deal with any other question. However, on the following morning, the solicitor informed defendant that his client deaired to insert something else ia the ' apology,' to which defendant objected, and nothing more was done in the matter before the case was called in Court, with the exception of the defendant paying L 5, and receiving a receipt from the solicitor for the same. The case was called, and then an amended apology was introduced, referring to other articles than the one in question, which the de-> fendant, being taken off his guard, very foolishly signed. The result of the strange arrangement would, no d6ubt ; have been very different if defendant were the only person likely to be injured by his refusal to sign the apology, but we must denounce his submissiveuess as not in keeping with the spirit displayed by him on previous occasions. It has ever been the object of the managers of this journal to put down oppression — to battle for the interests of this district — and to cringe to no party — therefore we fail to understand why the publisher allowed himself to express his disapproval of articles which contained nothing but a just criticism of the actions of a public man. He is fully aware of the evils that have so long been drawbacks to the advancement of this district — he is conversant with the peculiarities of public life on this gold field — he has marked the gradual decline of what was once a prosperous mining centre — yet, by his apology he condemned remarks which had a tendency to benefit his townsmen. However, we are in hopes that he has seen the error of his ways, and that he will arouse from his lethargy and become a wiser and a better man."

A public meeting is to be held at Gihner's Hotel, this evening, for the purpose of taking into consideration the present financial position of the Volunteer Fire Brigade. It is to be hoped there will be a large attendance, and that some practical measures will be devised for. rescuing this useful body from their present financial embarrassments. The General Government of the Colony are inviting tenders for the issue of L2i50,000 of debentures, under the '•immigration and Public Works Loan Act 1870." The details will be found fully specified in our advertising columns. . A bazaar in aid of the funds of the Hokitika Hospital was opened at the Hokitika Town Hall on Monday night. The takings that evening amounted to over LIOO. Captain Benaub, of the Celreno, has such faith in New Zealand timber for shipbuilding and cabinet-maker?' purposes; that he is taking home a quantity of heavy logs, 24ft long and 16in by 12in, of red pine, from Mr Cruickshank's mill, at the Hutt, Wellington. Two boys, employed in the capacity of nippers on the railway works, were near the Wynyard Pier, Auckland, on the morning of the 2nd instant, when they saw an object floating in the water close to the pier. They got nearer to it and found it to be the body of a man. They reported their discovery, and Sergeant Walker and a constable proceeded to the pier and hauled the body out of the water. The constables immediatel}' recognised it as the body of Adam Chisholm, a man very well known in Auckland. The deceased at one time carried on business as a butcher in Shortland street, and was possessed of a considerable amount of wealth, but at the time of his death was extremely poor. John Wells (formerly of Nelson and Havelnck, Marlborough) was arraigned at New Plymouth and pleaded guilty to a charge of not having- fully and truly discovered his property at his examination in bankruptcy. Mr Hughes addressed the Court in mitigation of pdnishment-. The Judge said that up to the present time lie had failed to percieve one redeeming feature in the character and conduct of the prisoner. He had behaved iin a grossly dishonest way to his creditors, in a bnsely ungrateful way to hiß benefactor, MrStavert(of Nelson), and he treated the Oourj; with}UhparaUeled impudence, Now,

at last, however, he seemed to have become aware of the struggle he was ma ; ntaining with the patience of "the Court, the fixed de.termination of those whonv he. bad wronged to bring him to justice, and the inexorable logic' of truth. The Court would recognise the fact that he had at 7 ast admitted his offence, and it would not feel itself constrained as it otherwise would have done to'inflict upon him .the full sentence of three years', imprisonment. Nevertheless it must mark' its sen.c of the bankrupt's conduct by awarding a severe, substantial, and exemplary sentence. He must be imprisoned in the common gaol at New Plymouth, and kept to hard labor for the term of two years. The Gipps Land Mercury reports that Mr Blacker has tried the sulpher fumes for pleurp-pneumonia in cattle with good results. He had three milch cows bad— one so weak as to be unable to stand. He made them inhale the sulpher fumes, and effected a perfect cure of all three. * A serious accident happened at the Cambridge wharf (Auckland) on the 29th ultimo, by which a valuable horse, the property of M. Cavin, carter. Cambridge, was destroyed. The steamer Blueuose was discharging cargo, ard Cavni's horse and dray had been brought close to the bank for the purpose of bringing up a load of goods. While the horse was standing something seemed to startle it, and it commenced backing. Cavin tried to pull its head round, but was unable to do.so, ancl, being so near the brink of the river, could not possibly stop it after the cart-wheels had gone over the edge of the bank. The dray | then ran down the steep incline, dragging tne horse with it, aud both were immediately precipitated into the river, and disappeared under the water. There were many people about, but no one was able to do anything to save the horse from what all saw was certain to be inevitable death. Capt. Kiikpatrick, of the Bluenose, with commendable promptitude, immediately sent out a boat, arid the crew of the steamer were successful in recovering the dray and harness after a little persevering work. Mr Buchanan, of the New South Wales Parliament, opposed a vote of LIOOO for the observatory expenses connected with the coming transit of Venus. He (Mr Buchanan) considered that if the transit occurred only once in a century they might very well let it go without iuquiry. He would like to know who observed it, here a century ago ? — Captain Onslow : Captain Cook. — Mr Buchanan : He was not; here a century ago.— Captain Onslow : Very, near it. He was here in 1874. — Mr Buchanan : Then it was said that we were to discover the distance between the sun and the earths— why that was known already. —Captain Onslow : Not at all. It is a question whether the distance is ninetyone or ninety-five millions of miles. — Mr Buchanan : And what was the difference whichever it. was ? — The money was voted by ; a majority of 36 to 3, amongst the latter ' being Mr Buchanan. In an article on the recent crisis iv this ; Colony, the Australasian says : — "ln this case the error appears, to have been entirely on one side, and we are, therefore entitled to : regard Mr Waterhouse's conduct as altogether exceptional, and himself as a unique specimen of political folly. . . It seems to us that Sir George Bowen acted with great and undeserved forbcarancej in not summarily dismissing from the public service an officer who could so far forget himself as to be guilty, of such insolent insubordination. There is little need for comment cither upon Mr Waterhouse or the latter portioa of this transaction. As to the detention of the steamer, there can be, and there is, but one opinion. As for Mr Waterhouse hmself, he has demonstrated so conclusively his total untitness for public life, that we m:ty leave him in that retirement from which he never ought to have emerged. His case is another' illustration of the ease with which men : sometimes gain a reputation that is ludicrously proportioned to their merits. Such' things have been, and will be again. The: Ff»iry Queen is nr t the only creature that can truly say, ' Methought 1 was enamored: of an ass."' | The Argus states that au attempt to defraud the Customs department was dis-j covered recently, and a heavy penalty hasi been inflicted on the offenders by the Com-; missioner of Customs. The officers of the; department have for some time suspected; that the revenue was defrauded by means of; -salted invoices, and their attention was directed lately towards a shipment of goods sent out by Mrs Tinsley and Co., manufacturers, Birmingham, to their Melbourne! agency. Duty had been paid, and the goods had been removed to their store, but the matter was investigated, and it was found that the revenue had been defrauded of about Ll7O duty. The value of the shipment was nearly L3OOO. The goods were seized, and the Commissioner of Customs inflicted on the firm a flue of L 75 for each of the six entries fraudulently passed, aud LSO for another entry, making in all a penalty of LSOO. The amount of duty of which the Customs had been defrauded, Ll7O, has also to be refunded Ihis penalty has been already paid. Mr Gordon, landing waiter; has the credit of the discovery.