THE PROPRIETOR OF THE "FREE LANCE" IN TROUBLE.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1370, 18 October 1883, Page 1

THE PROPRIETOR OF THE "FREE LANCE" IN TROUBLE.

The following is the paragraph which appeared in the Auckland “ Free Lance,” and which gave rise to the assault on Mr Wickham by Dr Harrison i—

I suppose I shall ba told that it. no bullness or mine, but a. everything’, a barber’, business I have no scruple while .having a customer to administer a cut to the femaldoctor, or whatever ace likes to call henelf (she can't be a woman in the best, highest and purest sense of the word) who ia lecture ingin "another ploce,” as they say in the House of Commons at Home. Thia—what on earth shall I call it ? hybrid, perhaps, for it is certainly no man by its appearance, no woman by its modesty, and not even a thoroughbred croes by its sentiment.—is lecturing to-night to married couples, that is to say, to men accompanied by women, or boys accomponied by girls, on “ Husbands and Wives.” I’m not particularly moral, for a barber must listen to all his customers have to say, and amu.e them in their own way, but I do think this creature has been given rope enough, and it is full time that an American diploma should no longer be allowed to be a cloak for American indecency in a British colony. Mr Aspinall, agent, narrates the facta aa followsHe states that Dr. Harrison, Mr Millett, and himself went to the Free Lance office. Mr Millett, who is employed at Mr Haslett’s chemist shop, went with them to show them the place. Neither Mr Aspinall nor Mr Millett had the slightest notion when they went to the office that any row would take place. Dr. Harrison went into the office and asked Mr Wickham if the editor was in. Mr Wickham replied that he was the editor. Dr. Harrison said he came to speak to him for a minute' Mr Wickham said “yes” and took us into his office. Dr Harrison then asked if he owned a paper called Figaro. He replied that he did. Something was then said about his rates of advertising. Dr Harrison asked for the name of the writer of an article in Figaro referring to Mrs Dr Potts, which Mr Wickham refused to give. Dr Harrison then told him to defend himself. At first he refused, but on the doctor removing his overcoat and hat, Mr Wickham started up and made for the door. Dr Harrison then struck Mr Wickham. The cut on Mr Wickham’s head was caused by his falling against the table in the scuffle. Neither Mr Millet nor myself took auy part in the affair, which was quite unexpected, and we do not know why we should have been arrested by Mr Thomson. It appears that prior to visiting Mr Wickham's office, Dr Harrison and his brother had interviewed Mr R. Browning, solicitor, with a view to legal proceedings against Mr Wickham, arising out of the Figaro business. Dr Harrison’s brother, on the doctor and the other parties being arrested, went for Mr Browning, who came to the police-station, and, after consulting with his client, proceeded to obtain bail. Mr Haslett became surety in £5O for each of the accused, and they were after a short incarceration released on bail.

The Australasian Insurance and Banking Record for September has the following i—- “ Suggestions to Masters of Vessels Insured in New Zealand Offices ” is the title of a verr useful and popularly-written brochure. It if printed by the Now Zeal*nd Murine Underwriters' Association for distribution amongst the class to which it is addressed. Opening witli a reference to the enormous losses at sea. it glances at the duty of the master as to seaworthiness, advises him upon the various mishaps to which his vessel is liable, and concludes with forcibly urging the extreme value of temperance. The line of action open to the matter in case of disaster is clearly expressed in the following words— The only motive which can properly impel an honest master, in al! cases aliks, is the simple direct desire to save and preserve the propertv, without the slightest reference to the insurance or its ownership. In fact, it is none of his business whether the property be insured or not, or who owns or has liens upon it. All he has to do is to act as if he were himself the uninsured owner of ship, cargo,and freight.” We can heartily commend this little work, with the hope that its practical instructions may be remembered in every case cf need.

An extraordinary case is reported by the Nelson Colonist as having been heard at Havelock the other day. A publican named Moses Fear was charged under the 191st section of the Licensing Aot, 1881, which read as follows : —“ Every person who shall sell or offer for sale any liquor with which if mixed any ingredient or material injurious to the health of persons drinking the same, and every person who shall sell as unadulterated any liquor which is adulterated shall, on conviction, be liable for every such off nee to a penalty not exceeding £20.” Mr Pitt prosecuted on behalf of Mr Horton, the chairman of the local licensing bench, and Mr McNab appeared for the defendant, whilst the charge was heard before Mr Allan, R.M. The allegation was that the defendant purchased croton oil, which is a powerful purgative, from a local medical man for the purpose of giving a dose of the mixture to the chairman of the licensing bench. Mr Horton suffered very considerably from the effects of the mixture. The magistrate adjourned the cane for a fortnight, and there is a possibility of a new information being laid under the 21st section of the Offences against the Persons Act of 1867.