MUSICIAN CHASTISED

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 89, 5 October 1911, Page 5

MUSICIAN CHASTISED

A WAIRATO INCIDENT. Auckland, October 3. Something of a sensation was caused in the Waikato on Sunday (says the Star), when a young music-master, as well known in Auckland as further south, was administered a public horsewhipping by an irate father. The musician, though a married man, is alleged to have written an extraordinary letter to the mother of a pupil with whom he had become infatuated. In this letter he declared his love for the daughter, but if, by this confession, the ardent, lover hoped to gain the assistance of the mother he signally failed. The musician later made indiscreet statements respecting the mother of the lady he professed to adore, and these alleged reflections in turn reached the ears of her husband, a man of impressive physical proportions. Incensed at what had happened, and apprised of the nature of the original confession of love for his daughter by a married man, the worthy sire armed himself with a rawhide whip and sallied forth in search of the music-master. Tracing him to a livery stable, he learned that his quarry was out driving. A four hours' wait for the young man's return only served as further fuel to fire the paternal wrath. Then the opportunity for punishment came, and the indignant sire took no half measures. Passers-by in the street of the country town were treated to the unusual sight of one full-grown man flogging another. The rawhide whip was used unmercifully, and the young man for once forgot that he claimed to be a member of the profession which has made a science of harmonica! sounds. The chastisement continued till the whipper and the whipped were tired; then the music-master sought obscurity.