The Patea Mail. (Published Wednesdays and Saturdays ) WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1878.

Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 383, 18 December 1878, Page 2

The Patea Mail. (Published Wednesdays and Saturdays ) WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1878.

Under the heading of “Advertisement,” the following has been published in the Wanganui Chronicle: — Notice to catholics. THE Patea Mail having become so corrupt as to fill up its supplementary page with rubbish of the lowest kind, and of the most scandalous character, capable of hurting the feelings of all Catholics, and of any man -of sense and good education, I must advise and direct all Catholic subscribers to the above paper to give it up immediately, and discontinue to support a paper that so grossly and shamelessly insults their church, and makes fools of their ministers. E. PERTUIS. In order to give subscribers to this journal a little extra reading matter, the proprietor, three months ago, commenced the publication of what is known in the trade as a “Patent” Supplement--that is, .a literary sheet which is got up and supplied to various newspapers in different parts of the Colony at a much cheaper rate than it would be possible for any single country office to get up and print the same amount of reading matter. It would be a mechanical impossibility for most country proprietors to produce a weekly supplement, quite apart from the question of cost, for the simple reason that they rarely have sufficient spare plant for the purpose. In any case it could not be done to pay. Hence many country newspapers throughout the Colony, the proprietors of which have receivedsufficient encouragementto warrantthe outlay, indulge in a “ Patent” Supplement. It is needless to say that the local editor has nothing whatever to do with the selection of matter which appears in the Supplement -—the Supplement being edited and printed in, and supplied from, one or other of the chief towns of the Colony. The first, or specimen sheet, being deemed satisfactory, terms were arranged, and the Supplement has ever since been published as received. The .' editor, having no taste for fiction, acknowledges to not having read a single issue of the Supplement. Nor, we believe, has the proprietor. That, of coarse, does not remove the responsibility. At the same time it will help to show, how inconsiderate and unjust is the strong language used by the Rev Father Pertuis, and how unwarrantable his attempt to injure the reputation and pecuniary prospects of a journal which, during the last eighteen months, is acknowledged fcy have done

useful work in advocating the best interests of the district, and which has been .steadily growing in public favour, as is amply testified by the very large .addition to its subscribers during that time, and to ithe heal thy appearance of its advertising columns. Being the only purely local paper, we have been most solicitous to give all sides a fair hearing. For this reason wide latitude has been given in the “ Open Column.” We have been pleased to record progress of every kind, and in all denominations, but have been specially careful to favour none, and certainly have not, and never should, wilfully insult the religious prejudices of any person or party. We think the Rev. Father Pertius has made a very serious, and certainly an actionable mistake ; and in his haste to condemn, and pecuniarilly injure this journal, has shown the will to tyrannise in a manner which will be resented Toy all free people—wlietliei Catholic or Protestant—and which, in spite of anything which may happen to have been contained in the supplement referred to, cannot but beget pity or ridicule for the writer. It should have been sufficient for the Reverend Gentleman to write privately to the Editor, or to have sent a letter for publication in the “ Open Column,” expressing his disapprobation before acting in the damaging and dangerous manner he has done. We may mention that, in addition to the advertised notice in the Chronicle for Catholics to discontinue supporting this journal, the reverend gentleman wrote—as we took it —privately, to the editor, expressing his sentiments, but not so violently as in the advertisement. Personnally, we highly esteem the writer, and have looked upon him, and shall still look upon him, as a worthy pillar of one of the Christian Churches. In proof of the high esteem in which the Rev. Pertius is held by us, and the weight we attached to his opinion, we reprint the following memo, which was written on the letter sent by him to the Editor of this journal, and which was enveloped, and addressed ready for posting to the printer of the “Patent” Supplement, previously to the advertisement in the Chronicle having reached Carlyle : “ Carlyle, 14th December. . The above letter is from a Catholic of influence in this district, and who is very generally respected outside his own denomination. The Catholic element is pretty strong here. As you doubtless desire to have as wide a constituency as possible, the hint contained in the letter may be worth your consideration, and so lead to a selection of matter as little offensive to religious prejudices—Protestant or Catholic—as possible. With such such a varied class of readers as your supplements get, it requires greater care in selection than even matter for a local paper, where the bias of the people is always known. Your supplements may circulate in some districts almost wholly Catholic, in which case the offence would be deemed great, and the result probably unprofitable.” However much we may regret the publication of anything offensive to Catholics, we are in no way disposed to shirk the responsibity of what has appeared in the Supplement, though it will be seen that we were not really guilty of the alleged crime, and therefore not deserving of the punishment which the Rev. Pertius in his wrath would inflict. Besides which we took prompt steps to avoid a repetition of what has proved so offensive to himself. We have every confidence in the good judgment of our Catholic readers, that they, are not like “ dumb driven cattle,” and that they will not, under the circumstances, be led away by the passion of their Pastor. We are always open to correction for statements made or opinions expressed, and indeeed court criticism as the very best way of maintaining healthy public opinion ; but we hate and shall always resent anything in the shape of tyrannic action, such as that of the Rev. Pertius, be the consequences what they may, The reverend gentleman should scarcely require to be asked to acknowledge the injustice of his hastily penned advertisement, and should show the same readiness to make amends for his rashness, which we did to prevent a recurrence of the alleged offence. We may mention that the supplement complained of has been published by one owner of a newspaper at any rate, who is himself a Catholic. Possibly by more.