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Typo: A Monthly Newspaper and Literary Review, Volume 5
[miscellaneous paragraphs]
They have a curious specimen of a newspaper in the little town of Opotiki. It has contrived to set the whole community by the ears. It was the proprietor who, a little more than a year ago, got up a fifth-of-November effigy of the local Church-of-England clergyman, and mounted on horseback, headed a disorderly procession in order to cremate it. The local policeman, with two or three churchwardens, routed the cavalcade, and carried off the effigy. The persistent attacks upon the Rev Mr Wills have led the local larrikins to regard him as fair game, and the unlucky parson has been insulted, assaulted by ruffians in disguise, and placed in fear for his life. All these attacks have been chronicled with immense approval by the Herald, which narrates a fresh assault in this elegant style: « Mr Wills has again had his—kicked. » It is not too much to say that this violence has been instigated by the paper. Two out of three cowards who lately maltreated Mr Wills at night were identified, and got off with a paltry fine. The Herald found fault with the parson for seeking the protection of the Court, and profanely reminded him of the Scripture text: « Vengeance is mine. » In the issue of the 6th January, the editor rejoicingly narrates the action of a dastardly youth who struck the reverend gentleman several blows across the face with a heavy whip. We regret to notice that bail was found for the assailant. Mr Wills's offence was that he took a leading part in a temperance organization, whereby the craft of the newspaper man—a brewer—was endangered. As chairman of the school committee it was also his task to hold inquiry into some complaints against a local teacher. This is all, save that he has said and written very injudicious things—editors have been known to do likewise—but he has done nothing to warrant the malignant persecution of which he has been the subject.