JUSTICE.

Waipawa Mail, Volume 2, Issue 133, 20 December 1879, Page 3

JUSTICE.

(.T r '-fV r * D,TOB or THE WAIPAWA HAIL.) * <?. a,- -In your report of the proceedings at tlie Resident Magistrate's Court, on Thursday, the 11th inst., I notice that E. Slaney is charged with having assaulted W. Meredith and Constable Pickering at Woodville, and was ordered to be imprisoned for one month. Now, Sir, being a resident in this district, and being in close contiguitv to the scene of the supposed assault, I shall give you my version of the affair, as it actually occurred, and after any sensible person reads it, I am sure he would willingly {dace the accuser (Meredith) in the

place of the accused. Slaney, who was returning quietly from Mr Murphy's hotel to Mr Smith’s board-ing-house with one or two companions, was met on the road by Meredith, who, without any cause, when passing, addressed Slaney in a very surly and insulting manner. Slaney, mark you, the insulted person, immediately turned round and told him to go about his business. Then Meredith, drawing an off-handed blow, struck Slaney across the mouth. They then closed, and in the tussle tumbled on the road ; the constable then came up and took Slaney in charge. Tho constable also complains of an assault, “ Heaven save the mark.” Compare the two men, a Tom Thumb to a young Goliath. In connection with this affair, I may say that prior to Constable Pickering’s appearance here, during a period of three years, the peace has been kept in a most exemplary manner, considering the number of “rough and tumble” sort of characters who are bound to be met with in such an out of the way place as this. Whatever a policeman’s duty may be, he Bhould certainly discriminate the difference between a thorough-paced rowdy and an inoffensive bushman, and he should certainly allow a certain license to men who, working hard for months in a wet, mosquito-infested bush, without either amusement or society of any kind, when in receipt of a few pounds, which, I can assure you, is a very scarce commodity here, takes a drop or two of spirits down to keep his spirits up, and tries to mingle now and then in the only social sphere he can meet with in a public-house bar. Tours, Ac., ROBERT SAWYER.

P.S. —ln verification of my statements, I am able to produce at any time four or five reliable witnesses. R. S. Woodville, December 16.