NOTES ON CURRENT EVENTS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IX, Issue 19, 20 December 1884, Page 2

NOTES ON CURRENT EVENTS.

: . ♦ A rather amusing case is mentioned m a Home paper. It arose out of a dispute between the Mayor and the Chief of the Fire Police m a town m England, as iq who had authority to sell a fire escape. The Chief told the Mayor ho could "go to blazes." The latter's house was shortly afterwards burnt down, and he told the Municipal Couucil that he had grave suspicious that the Chief had either caused it to be "blazed" or wilfully allowed it to be burnt. Thereupon the Chief summoned the Mayor for damage for slander, and the question turned ou what, the former meant by the expression " go to blazes." The Chief obtained £300 damages, but the, ' Mayor appealed. The result of the", appeal is not before us. Evidently our conterapory, the Wairoa' Guardian is pestered, like we are often, by people asking to have their names " kept out of the paper." This ia what the Guardian says : — From time to time people concerned m cases before the R.M' Court take needless offence at proceedings being published, but if people will commit themselves, they must pay the penalty. The publication of the proceedings of the Court of Justice subserves a great public purpose, for the fear of publicity is as great a deterrent to most wrong -doers as the fear of punishment. A fact, {which is universally recognised by the Press, hence the pains taken by all papers, to furnish full reports of such proceedings. And again, it isbotli the right and duty of the Press to mention the errors— whether of omission or commision — of those m author' ity, without fear, or favor, or any respect of persons, Any matter, m fact, that is df interest to the public is fair food fort a newspaper, always supposing that it is not of an improper nature. "Nothing, extenuate, nor set down aught .m malice," shonld be the motto. Unfortunately, a journalist, m carrying out the duties of his profession , particularly m a small place, is bound, at some time or other, to tread on the corns of some of his best friends.