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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 1003, 24 November 1881, Page 2

Yesterday morning the main thoroughfare of Gisborne’s generally quiet town, was the scene of a fracas, such as, we are glad to say, seldom occurs. It appears that Mr. J. Gannon —brother of Mr. M. J. Gannon, and on a visit to him from Australia—accosted Mr. Hy. McKay, the editor of the Poverty Bay Herald, whip in hand, and accused him of publishing, in his journal, certain libellous and defamatory statements reflecting on himself, and his family connections both here and elsewhere. As usual, an altercation took place, ending in Mr. Gannon laying his whip, three or four times on Mr. McKay’s shoulders. Mr. McKay did not retaliate, and after the usual excitement, the parties separated. Other proceedings, will, doubtless, be taken, which we do not desire to anticipate. Our more immediate desire is to remark on the regretableness of the fact that the public business of life cannot be conducted between men—-who, in a small community like that of Gisborne, are in each other’s company several times during each day of the week —without the introduction of matter, which is a disgrace to the perpetrator, and painful—severely, unnecessarily painful—to the feelings of the person to whom it is addressed. We purposely refrain from quoting the cause which led to the recent chastisement—the editor of the Herald being the guardian of his own acts and deeds —but we should fall short of our duty did we not express great regret at the circumstance that rendered that chastisement necessary. So far the candidates, and their several supporters, both in the newspapers, and at public meetings have comported themselves in a way that reflected great credit on all concerned. In fact, it has been a common remark that quieter and more orderly electioneering is seldom to be met with. But all of a sudden, the wedge is inserted, and split goes the whole trunk. We dotrust that the “ Catholic ” question, as a denominational one, will be dropped ; for the cause must be a poor one that brings a man’s religious belief into discussion in order to support it.