A gorse fire then sparked a conflagration between the two major players and whipped up a firestorm of bitter rivalry and barbed insults which lasted for decades and could be attested to by old hands to this day, although they may be unaware of its origins.
It all began on St Patrick's Day holiday 1873, with a regatta taking place on Taupo Quay.
"What little bunting Wanganui can sport was hung out to do duty for the occasion, and assisted in giving the town a gala appearance," observed the Herald.
What happened next missed Monday's deadline, but appeared the following day.
"In the midst of the sport yesterday the dread alarm of fire was raised, causing a stampede of horsemen and vehicles in the direction of the supposed conflagration."
Dense smoke billowed from Plymouth St and it was thought that either the Sandridge Hall residence of mayor William Hogg Watt or the Church of England parsonage was ablaze.
Fire chief Robinson ordered brigade volunteers to prepare for action, but they were not required.
"The advance guard found Mr W. H. Watt engaged in deliberately burning furze in the street," complained the Herald.
His worship's response? "People are having their fun on the Quay and I'm having mine here!"
A series of claims, counter-claims, explanations, denials and insults followed, with the Herald demanding action from the police. "If from fear of Mr Watt's position they hold back from their public duty, they are not worthy of their hire."
Mr Watt had apparently committed a similar offence the previous year, escaping penalties of £5 plus costs on each occasion.
But when the Herald labelled the mayor a delinquent and accused him of lying, Watt sued Ballance for £1100 for "injuries to his reputation", then demanded (unsuccessfully) that the case be transferred to Christchurch.
It was eventually scheduled for October in the Wanganui Supreme Court, but His Honour pointed out that both the complainant's and defendant's names were on the jury list and had not been challenged, theoretically enabling them to adjudicate their own case.
Once that was sorted, both counsels conferred, then requested the case go instead to arbitration, albeit reluctantly on Ballance's part.
His Honour happily agreed, opining that a jury trial "would have been accompanied by serious evil to the community", which he then congratulated for having escaped such a scandal.
Deliberations took place at the Rutland Hotel; John Bryce (for Ballance), former premier William Fox (for Watt). With a third arbitrator they found in favour of Watt and awarded £50 damages plus costs.
Both men claimed victory - Watt for having won and Ballance because it was such a paltry sum.
Mr Watt lit no more gorse fires but hedged his bets by buying the Chronicle. Former Chronicle owner William Hutchison then became mayor, the men swapping roles.
The friction between the two newspaper magnates then moved up a level. Ballance became a Member of the House of Representatives, but lost his seat to Watt in 1881 by a margin of four votes, then won it back in 1884 by a large majority.
Meanwhile, the insults flew: "The Chronicle has out-Heroded Herod!" and "The Herald's political mission is to misrepresent and is too old a sinner to be reformed now".
Unfortunately what was once splendid entertainment for the reading public finally ceased with the demise of the Herald in 1986.
So, um ... I think I'll side with Brit on this one.