ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 171, 29 November 1876, Page 2

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

[We are at all times ready to give expression to every shade of opinion, but in no case do we hold ourselves responsible for the sentiments of our correspondents.] (to the editor of the patba mail. Sir, —It is with unfeigned regret that in justice to myself I have now to appeal to you for liberty to refute and deny the base and invidious* inuendos preferred by the “ Wanganui Herald” of the 21th in'st., against my report of the proceedings of the Resident Magistrate’s Court which sat here on Monday last, the 20th Inst. How any editor of a paper professing to have any pretention of holding a prominent position in journalistic experience could, with any possibility, so far

outstep the bounds of licensed criticism as to be guilty of such gross partiality, is to mo a matter of the utmost surprise. Surely the editor of the “Herald” must have been most woefully misguided in the matter by some prejudiced individual, else he never could have permitted such a mis-state-ment of facts to appear in the columns of his paper. Now, Sir, he in the first place commences his criticism by stating that “the defendant in this case was charged with rape.” This to begin with is a most unqualified untruth, and ought in itself alone to mar the credibility of any subsequent comments made on the case by him* The “ premises ” being shown to be untrue, how can subsequent details be entitled to even the semblance .of credibility ? The paragraph goes on to say that “the evident falsification of the above’report in order to cloak the nature of the alleged offence,” &c., &c. Where lies the falsification ? Where lies the endeavour to cloak the offence ? Is it false to asseverate that an “ assault with intent ” comes under the hosul of “ committing an offence against the laws of propriety?” Is it not allowed that the charge was reported in your columns as one of “ indecent assault ?” Why then this “ tirade ” on the part of the “Herald?” Why then has that paper been so unfortunately ignorant as to fall into the very net that it tried so blindly to lay for the Mail. Would the “Herald” Wish for all the evidence (or even a small portion of it) to lie introduced in the columns of any respectable paper in such a case as this? Surely not, I now turn to the second case— l acknowledge to have erred in reporting that the case was “ dismissed.” Certainly I thought that was the verdict at the time, but I have since learnt that it was “ recommended to bo withdrawn.” Is this so great an error in reporting? Does- the “ Herald ” invariably report occurrences in so intensely correct a manner as to .permit of that paper throwing dirt in the pyes of a contemporary? I trow not. The; “ Herald ” further goes on to say, “ But if the report is false, as we believe it to be,” &c. Now, Sir, it is impossible to comprehend how the editor of any paper can render its columns open to issuing such a libel (for a libel it is) as is contained in the words in italics, without first possessing the full particulars and a “ precis ” of the evidence taken in the case. Can the editor of the “ Herald ” deny that all he learnt of the case was merely from hearsay ? I assert fearlessly and positively that he cannot deny it. How then can he question the veracity of a person who was present in Court during the whole of the cases in question, and took down, verbatim, (as I did) all the leading evidence during the day in question ? Surely, Sir, this is one of the instances in which the “ Herald,” relying on “ old-wivcs-tales ” fabricates a tissue, of falsehoods so evidently antagonistic to the true facts of the case. If my report of the cases in question Was a false one, why has no resident of these parts who heard the cases, come forward to prove the falseness of which I am accused ? Why should the “ Herald ” appear as the champion of “ disgraceful prostitution of journalism,” when there are other persons resident hereabouts far more capable of giving sound judgment in the matter. In conclusion, Sir, I beg to observe that I willingly leave my reputation in the hands of the residents of this rising township, as I consider them to be the most competent persons to judge whether the accusations preferred against my report by the “ Herald,” are just or otherwise. I am, &c., &c., W. Hamilton Inman, Correspondent of the Mail. Hawcra, Nov. 27, 1870.