MR. HUGH S. BLACK AND MR. BRATHWAITE.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIII, Issue 3019, 30 March 1867, Page 6

MR. HUGH S. BLACK AND MR. BRATHWAITE.

Totn* Editor of ttie Dazly Sovtbmmh CJtftss. Sni,— A letter, signed "HughS. Black," appeared in your columns of the 27th instant, censuring Mr. Brathwaite, of the Ciril Commissioner's office, for translating to Hone Rangaunu a letter published by Mr. Black, in relation to the supposed " disturbed state of the Pi»ko natives." Mr. Brathwaite, being * Government officer, is precluded by the rules of his department from giring any public explanation, I therefore on his behalf, frith your permission, make a few remarks on Mr. Black's strictures. On the publication of Mr. Black's letter of complaint, I interrogated Hone Kangaunu before another interpreter with respect to thi* matter, and was assured that no foundation whatever existed for the accusation! made by Mr. Black against Mr. Brathwaite ; that the latter gentleman was perfectly innocent, never having even so much as named Mr. Black or his letter. This is one instance oat of many showing how easy a thing it is to traduce, through the press, the characters; of men, such as Mr. Brathwaite, of high moral worth, who through force of circumstances are unable or disinclined to defend them■elv«s against those who publish uncharitable animadversions. There are always two sides to a question, And I venture to suggest to correspondents generally that it is not only wise but accessary ihab both sides be heard before the proposed punishment is administered — before our mistakes or our sini are proclaimed to the world. Now, in regard to the wrong imagined to have been inflicted on Mr. Black by the translation of his letter to the Maoris, I am unable to discover that there are any reasonable grounds for complaint. Evidently, if Mr. Black did not intend that his letter should have become public property, he should not have inserted it in your journal. That he had the moral courage to append his name was a commendable act on his part, and, if he were conscious th»t his statements would bear the strictest scrutiny, it should be to him a matter of profound indifference as to who should read hi» letter, or who translated it to the Maoris. Certainly those who did either the one or the other were guilty of no breach in morals ; on the contrary, I deem it praiseworthy to induce our Maori friends to take an interest in the leading journals of this country, for their moral and social condition will assuredly be promoted thereby. — I Km, 4c, C. 0. Davis. Auckland, March 28, 1867.