Untitled

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 689, 7 May 1879, Page 2

There is an evil which is now — we mention- it with deepest regret — permeating ibjfough social circles m Gisborne,? which- -it? -is absolutely necessary should be. suppressed. . We allude to the falseTepbrts permitted to be passed from mouth to mouth as to'the solvency of business tirms. To repeat such reports, even when they come from what mayObl cbufydered a reliable authority, is, at the least, most indiscreet. To invent or create them is infamous. At this critical juncture, to speak J of any linn dqubtin'gly, is calculated to infi^cVmusJj injury. A ahpag ■of the shoulders, a nod of the head 'a— " Ah,.^ you say it, is so" will, at such times, damn a man's credit aud, perhaps his character, beyond present redemption. A man may be m temporary difficulties, although nothing more than what he may be able to yull through ; but once raise a doubt, or circulate an idle report, and the mischief done may become, irretrievable. It is the cruel kicking of a sick man, who, if let alone, might recover from his ailment. That the times are out of joint with many is no doubt true ; but it is very far from being the case with all by a long way. At present a mati's^good name and credit will stand him m good stead. Deprive him of these, and he may have to succumb. "It is hard to; stop men's tongues, or suppress whisperings, but if those who stand on a firm foundation them- 1 selves would only avoid sapping and undermining others — perhaps from no malico-aforethought, or with evil intention, it would prevent many a .wound being/inflicted which may take years to heal ; or which, indeed, may never" Jbeal. Reports are silently circulating now through town/of the " shaky" condition of business firms which are perfectly solvent, and : quite able to meet every demand that can be made on them at sight. Itis so at other centres. It was so m England after the failure of the Bank of Glasgow, when there was not a bank which was not reported to be m the same Btate. It is difficult to briny the law to bear upon such spoken or whispered slaudera, and this makes the offence more heinous; We are assuredly suffering as much as we can bear from real troubles, without raising those whicli do not exist.