A WANTON ATTACK.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 35, 23 September 1871, Page 14

A WANTON ATTACK.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW ZEALAND MAIL. Sir, —In the last issue of the Mercury,” I observe with regret a most gross personal attack upon the Resident Magistrate of the district. Of course, in the district, such attacks are merely looked upon with the contempt they deserve, as the character of the gentleman in question, and of the paper in which such remarks appear, are too well known for it to be possible that he could be injured by anything emanating from such a source. But any stranger reading the paragraph I allude to, can only arrive at the conclusion that we either have a Resident Magistrate who is a disgrace to the Bench, or that our social state must be very peculiar indeed. If no one comes forward to repel with indignation such a charge. I am one who feel that such uncalled for attacks as this are an insult to the community, and for this reason I wish to protest against them. It may be argued that the proprietor of the paper being liable to an action for libel, ought to give’a sufficient protection to any, one who feels himself aggrieved but when it is remembered how expensive an action is, and that even though it may be gained, the plaintiff may be saddled with the costs, if the defendant is unable to pay, it will be at once seen that the protection afforded by the law may in some cases be a very poor one. I should have addressed this to the Editor of the “ Mercury,” but I doubt whether a single copy of that paper ever crosses the Rimutaka, and it is for readers outside the district who may happen to have heard of this incidentally that I write.—l am, &c., Wairarapa, Sept. 13. Justice.