THE DIPHTHERIA SCARE.

Kumara Times, Issue 1609, 23 November 1881, Page 2

THE DIPHTHERIA SCARE.

[to the editor.] Sir—ln course of conversation with a neighbour to day about the diphtheria sore, ho drew my attention to a paragraph in Monday evening’s Hokitika Star, in which that paper’s “ own correspondent” at Ivuniara states that “ for what we know we may be upon the threshold of a wide-spread epidemic, yet not one word of caution, advice, ot information had been given us hy the local press. One thing is certain—election notices pay far better than giving attention to any kind of dis* eases. This, no doubt, accounts for the excess of the one, and the entire absence of the other." Although my controversialist sides with me that this statement is incorrect, a dispute arose as to the number of times yon had written about or alluded to the subject. W old you please settle the question 1 My papeis are so frequently borrowed that I find it quite impossible to file them.—l am, sir, yours, &c., A Constant Reader.’

Kumata, Nov. 22, 1881. [We are obliged* to “A Constant Reader ” for drawing our attention to this wilful and deliberate falsehood; 1 he fact is that, the Klumara agent for the sale of the Hokitika Star and the “own correspondent” of that paper are one and the same person j and he appears to be resorting to this extreme for the sake of gaining a few more pennies. We very rarely read his productions, which partake mostly of political twaddle such as might be expected of a man ousted from public office by his own stupid obstinacy and acts, and who in the Star finds a medium of airing his opinions and vengeance under the guise of a “ correspondent,” upon the Town Clerk of this borough. Well, we will just show you what that sentence is worth. But, first of all, we are more surprised at “ the man who does the editorial work” of the Star for allowing this statement to appear than the correspondent who wrote it, fur the former could not have failed to notice fiequent references in this journal to the cases of supposed diphthei ia in Ivumaraj and it was only on Saturday lust that we had to charge the Star with plagiarizing from our columns a paragraph cm this very subject which, probably, the “ own correspondent ” did not observe had previously appeared in the Kumaua J i-MES. But, to answer your question. Two paragraphs, two leaders, and a Board of Health report on the subject yon mention have been given in tho KfMA.UA Times. First, on Nov. 12th, within a day flora tho time of its reported appearance, a meeting of the Hoard of Health was called, and the result of the meeting was reported in this journal the same afternoon. 2nd, Four days alterwards we reported Dr. Rossetti visiting Kumara with the object of settling for the Board of Health as to whether it was diphtheria or not.—(This was the paragraph copied by the Star, without acknowledging the authority.) 3rd, on the 18th (two days further on) we had a leader on the subject j and 4th, only last Saturday this journal contained a column and a-half on the subject. And this is the “ local press ” which is reported as giving “ not one word of information” on the subject. We must apologise to

our readers for being so lengthy in onr reply.. Had “A Constant Reader” not drawn onr attention to the subject, we might not have seen it. Hitherto we have taken no notice of the little insinuations and inueudoes which have from time to time appeared from that addle-brained writer in reference to this journal; but you and the public have now an opportunity of knowing their value and judging of their truth. A more wil<ul or deliberate falsehood never was published.— Ed. K.T.]