THE SUPERINTENDENT'S PET PILOT.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XIV, Issue 1033, 22 May 1857, Page 3

THE SUPERINTENDENT'S PET PILOT.

To the Editor of the Southern Cross. Sir — The air of injured innocence with which Captain Wingseelw, in this day's 'New-Zealander,' to refute the charges made against him by Capt. Millton speaks for itself. With regard to the letter itself I have a few words to say. The first part of it I shall leave to Capt Millton to contradict ; but, about the middle, in answer to Captain Millton's assertion that Captain Wing had asked him to assist him (Captain W.) with advice with reference to taking the steamer in, I iiad a confession made by Captain Wing that he did ask for Captain Millton's assistance, ami then, to my astonishment, come* the reaion why that assistance was asked, — listen ye appointere of Pilots, &c.,— because "I was informed it was intended if possible to lead me astray, so that the vessel might take giound in the narrow part of the channel near Cape Horn." Good Heaven ! Is this the competent person who is to be entrusted with the lives of passengers, &c, and the property of shipowners ? Is this the person the 'New-Zealander editor seeks to defend? Who — because some busy body chooses to tell him that, it is intended, if possible, to lead him astray does not feel sufficiently confident of his own knowledge— and is therefore compelled to ask the assistance of the Captain — to bring the vessel into harbour. With regard to Captain Wing's orders being contradicted by some officer on bonrd I should have thoxight, if such, was the ease, it became the duty of the Pilot to decline taking charge any longer, and thus exonerate

fl>imseif from any fiUme. which might otherwise be nt» taehed Co W*; in cose of accidents. In another p»i% of, the* •New-Zeaiamler' I find a few nicit. unprejudiced, editor inl re.n.u ks? on the same subjecf Thf editor says, he ac uially knows h.'ts wen 1 nn(b, in a cermin quarter, that the steamer would not be brought in wit'i.mt stu-king, and that subsequently some obnoxious lndniduul o\cn had the audvity to "prophesy" something to the same effect, which, combined with Captain Wing's statement that o :e of the passengers told him there was a conspiracy on board against him, mint certainly have hid a nen on* tendency, and render incompetent b Pilot who know* his duty**© thoroughly. What a paltry attempt to explun away ineompeteney, and exculpate Captain Wing irom a very serious charge. Trusting the Manukau Pilot will find a more able defender than the 'New-Zealander editor, and also be better able to defend hunseU, the next time he gets into a scrape, I am, Sir, &c., JirSTITIA. May 20, 1857.

To the Editor of the Southern Or on. Sir,— ln reading Wednesday's 'New Zealandcr' I was surprised at the leading article comnlamin« ot the magistrates and asserting that outrages on all sorts of females were commuted in tlie Papakura and W.-iroa districts. As lam well acqminted with tho Wmto.i district, I can onlj say that there must have been pome sudden change unknown to me. Looking at ,he advrrtisement calling a meeting of the dislncct,, and oui>fei\ing that there is no name attached, I think it must be intended to entrap the unwary into spending a few shillings at the public house. I ask if the Waiioa people have made any coirplaint about these J.P.s. As to Mr. Logan, JP , I « 111 say nothing either for or against, having no comp'.iinth to make. As I believe that none ot the Wtiiron people hive been consulted on the mn'ter, I hope that people will be more careful in future abont their ad\ertizeinents. Thomas Cbaio. Way 21, 1837 [As the J. P.s will presently have to settle the Electoial Roll, it is of course deenied advisable to tall foul ol them in time. — Ed.]