CORRESPONDENCE.

Press, Volume XXI, Issue 2353, 18 February 1873, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

♦ THE CATHEDRAL. TO the editor of the press. Sir, —It is to be hoped that we shall now hear the last of the most absurd idea of removing the site of the Cathedral, and that the Synod will again endorse what they have three times before declared, that the ground shall not be alienated. There is a peurile impatience about the present age that is sad to see as showing an utter abseuce of faith ; every thing must be crowded into a focas ; the fruit must be seized before the tree is planted; luxuries must be enjoyed before they are earned ; so, because we tried six years ago to build a Cathedral and did not do it>, we are to be little children and destroy our toy because it did not come when we wanted it. Suppose the deed done, and the glittering bait, the ten thousand pounds, paid over, where in Christchurch can a site be obtained at all suitable for at least half tbe money ?. Then the Commission will have to repay to all who demand it the full subscription money paid, or they will be liable to the imputation of obtaining the money under false pretences ; then to put in fresh foundations somewhere else, all the rest of the money will be taken up, and the end will be that the Church will be deprived of the land, and not one inch more advanced towards the building of the Cathedral. The church has possession of the. land in trust for future generations and if this land is now sold how can it be expected that any well disposed benefactor will ever leave land for church purposes if it can be subjected to so flagrant a breach of trust as this is now proposed to be ? The would-be spoliators call it sentimental to wish to keep this land, meaning the word apparently to mean the opposite to what may be called the practical, business, moneygetting, usual run of the world of the day. Did they ever consider John Bunyau's allej. gory, of the man with the muck rake ; and his it hot specially requisite that in the very ' centre, and focus of our money-grubbing, city, a building should be placed which would be a standing protest against all greed and selfishness ; and from .the very

fact of its;:occupying the most valuable business site in the town, would keep before the eyes of the world the fact that there are better things than acquiring money and towa sections. . .. .- - It is to be hoped that the Synod will never consent to sell for money that which will become to our children the inheritance of their fathers ; but that the present effort to deprive them of their birthright, will result in the speedy resumption of the works.of the cathedral. , Canterbury. THE OA-THEDRAL SITE. TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS. 1 Sir. —I see by a notice in the daily p .pers ithat a special meeting of the synod has been called to oohsider the proposal made by the Government to purchase the cathedral site. 1 have some vague idea that the question -was supposed to be finally settleid some two years since; the voice of the Church, as -expressed by the synod, as welt as I can remember, was decidedly against parting with i the site.. If this is the case, what right, what authority, has the standing committee .

re-open the question ? ' • There-are wheels within wheels woTkingin some way which plain and simple folks find it hard to understand. '• Ways that are dark," and tricks that are mean, should be unknown in ecclesiastical circles. A Christian clergyman not long since dcs- : described the " standing committee" as a 'standingnuisance." I do not think he was 'far wrong.* It certainly does some little good •jr-actiug as a.break to prevent the Church Coach from being driven too rapidly, t> u t the danger is that the break may be put on too heavily and the coach stopped altogether. If some one who understands this cathedral site question would give the public reliable information, it would no donbt call forth au expression of public opinion ; but whatever happens, I hope the synod will not be led by the standing committee. . '. 15th Feb., 1873. Churchman. .

The eye being one of the most delicate organs of nature, the skilled occulist only should be consulted on its diseases and defects. From the fear of appearing ancient, many persons refrain from artificial aid when really needful. It is absurd, and only aggravates ' the defect and causes disease of the optic nerve, which may become chronic, aiid fi ually j result in premature blindness. Non-pro- t fessionals should never be allowed to. tamper t with the eyes, because the sight changes at different stages of life, arising from ( several constitutional causes, known solely to the OCULIST, to whom application should be \ made immediately it occurs, as delay often results in serious consequences. The Opto- -_ metric treatment not only remedies defective ' vision, but it has frequently restored the eyes to their proper functions from a state of comparative blindness. It is the only accurate method known to modern science for de tec ting the several affections of the. eye- - sight, which comprise Myopia, Presbyopia, "

i Diplopia, Hemeualopia, and Chroma- -■ TOPSEUDOPSIB. The press, and eminent medical men, pro- > nonnce Mr Solomon's OPTOMKTRIC treatment to be a marvel of the age, and rccom- > mend its adoption by those whose eyes have i deviated from their'usual functions: it has i completely revolutionised tho dreadful system of the sight being so fearfully injure*J in the selection of glasses from incompetents, aud also clearly proves that persons can't posI sibly gauge their own precise focus of sight. J The various eye diseases, such" as I Amauuosis, Cataract, Orhtualmia, Sta- | phyloma :>PECS, or FILMS on the eye, and any other blemishes can only be dVtectwd Iby a combination of Mr Solomon's Op- •£ OMETRIC and Ophthalmoscopic observa i ions. There exists an erroneous idea that, when once glasses are adopted they can't be discontinued. Such is only a fact when unprincipled veudor. of spurious spectacles are resorted to and their counterfeits worn too long. Dondeks, who is acknowledged to be the highest authority pn the science of optics, says in his treatise on the refraction of the eye :—" So far from short-sighteduc-s improving in advanced life, as is popularly believed, it is too frequently a progressive affect ion, and every progressive Myopia is threatening with respect to the future, inasmuch that if not checked in due season by the aid of SUITABLE GLASSES, the vision will be irrevocably lost. Spectacles or eye-glasses, if injudiciously selected, usually aggravate the evil they are intended to remedy. ' Therefore, an occulistof reputation should.always, if possible, be consulted as to the choice of them." He further states, in reference to long-sighted people, " that PresbyoP-A is as natural a concomitant* of advanced life as grey hairs or wrinkles. It is occasionally mte with in youug persons, and may be the precursor of Amaurosis ; hence such cases should be carefully watched, and the advice of an oculist regarding the CHOICE of spectacles is well worth his fee." Mr Solorrion's OPHTHALMIC preparations are highly extolled by all who use them, and should always be kept in the house by those whose eyes are weak or diseased. If applied opporjairiely, they afford instant relief and prevent what might culminate in CHRONIC eye affections. The genuine registered ACHROMATIC LENSES, which preserve and strengthen the eyes, and impart to them an essential sense of coolness and relief, adapted to all stages of optical imperfections, ana OPTOMETRICALLY guaranteed to the exact focus of sight, are only obtainable from Mr SOLOMON, the qualified OCDI ST and OPTICIAN, and sole inventor of t' jcelebrated OPTOM ETiilC apparatus. Consulting Booms : Clarendon Hotel. N.B.—Mr S. will positively leave Christchurch on the 28th instant. 1-23 554