Putting Down Calumny.

Patea Mail, 20 January 1882, Page 3

Putting Down Calumny.

The local public have not yet done with that disgraceful telegram sent by the Patea agent of the Press Association, defaming the Mayor of Patea by insinuating “ startling revelations concerning Mr Sherwood.” We can all agree that Mr Sherwood is properly answerable for any acts. of his prior to becoming Mayor of Patea, as well as for any done since. Ought we not all to agree that while he holds the office of Mayor he should have the same fair-play as would be given to a private individual ? If charges are to be made against him, they, should be made openly, and should not he insinuated by‘some person who conceals his name and is afraid to show himself. The local public agreed, by a clear majority, to elect the. Mayor; and the public should still agree to uphold the Mayor with all proper dignity and due respect. Acting as a community,, we lower ourselves by permitting our chief officer.to be maligned and disgracefully 'defamed by insinuations sent all over the colony .through ;some mischievous; agent who is afraid to make the charges openly in a place where they can be met.

It .will. bo..manifest, even to persons who are not learned in law, that,if wit-> nesses are to be produced to prove something done by Mr Sherwood at .some-, previous t time, th|sj wjll pot be admissible in a Court as proof that Mr Sherwood divulged the contents of a tender. 'Even a lawyer’s office-boy should know better than that..: Hence the unfairness of pretending to prove this bharge about tenders by calling witnesses, on some other charge . which is not before the Court, It is the easiest thing In the world to bring'other charges before a Court, . The slanderers have only to cease . .whispering, ? and to. stand up like /men .and say they, know of - certain , improper things done < by' Mr Sherwood prior to becoming Mayor, and challenge him him ; , to test ithe charges in; a f Courti If Mr Sherwood does i not take up the charges when publicly made, and if be does not .seek public vindication ; in; a. Court, the public will'be compelled, for their own protection, to demand his resignation of = the Mayoralty, and will be justified in . memorialising the Minister of Justice to strike him off the rdlLas justic'o of; the peace.

This is a plain issue. We put it in this form because some one must speak in the public interest. We challenge the slanderers, *in the name of public decency, to make their scandalous charges opeifiy,j in .a way that will admit of the charges being openly enquired'into. We have not asked whether Mr Sherwood will meet the charges in a Court. It is enough for'us to know .that scandalous charges are being insinuated against! the- Mayor-of Patea. Will the slanderers come into the open day and show themselves ? If not, let them hide their mean heads as contemptible cowards and, stabbers in the dark.