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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume III, Issue 130, 10 July 1863, Page 5 (Supplement)

To the Editor of the Hawke's Bay Times. Sir, — I notice in the issue of the Herald for the 4th of July, a letter signed “No Gammon,” and which letter purports to he an expose of your paper. Now, I’m a lover of fair play, and consequently a reader of your paper, and it strikes me that the circumstances under which you labor are such as entitle you to every credit for the manner in which your paper is conducted. It is well, however, that the Herald is supported, not by the people of this Province, but by the Government and a select clique, and that independently of that he would go to the wall. I have occasionally looked over copies of that paper, but have never discovered any expression of opinion upon passing events, beyond just so much as Mr. M’Lean chooses to allow to appear, and that's not much. Another thing forces itself upon the attention of people reading the local papers and that is that whenever a laudatory epistle appears in the Herald, giving him the benefit of a small lick, it happens to come forth just after some very severe chastisement or rebuke has been inflicted by you upon that respectable party, and not being able to refute the soundness of your arguments or opinions, he is obliged to look up some “ intelligent correspondent” who for a “ consideration” is willing to do the No Gammon style. This is a poor, shuffling way of attacking an opponent. Stick to the course you have adopted. It is better to give in a good sensible leader, and a rational exposition of public feeling once a week than to do as the Herald does, be-lard and be-slaver the people with worn-out twaddle, copied from every slow journal in the colony, twice a’ week. Never pay for puffs, mind that. I agree with you that another Auctioneer is much wanted here; all business should be conducted free of partisanship and cliqueism, and as Mr. Janisch is the auctioneer for the “ swells” and the Herald, it would pay a smart man pretty well to start in that line for the benefit of the unostentatious section of the community. Competition is very wholesome, and people who would attend Mr. J’s sales if they knew of them, are deprived of the advantage by his absurdity, and his clients suffer in consequence.

I am, &c., A Lover of Fair Play. [We are very much obliged to our correspondent for his high opinion of our paper, and have to say that we publish his letter because it is evidently written with a good feeling and a desire to obtain a fair field for everybody. We are, however, quite able to fight our own battles, depending as we do, entirely upon the soundness and justness of our views.—Er>.