The Lyttelton Times.

Lyttelton Times, Volume II, Issue 97, 13 November 1852, Page 7

The Lyttelton Times.

November 13, 1852. We have most unwittingly given offence to our contemporary, the Otago Witness. In slightly commenting some weeks past on certain, proceedings which were reported in that journal as having occurred in the6treets of Dunedin, in which blows were exchanged and sticks practically used, —Aye remarked that " a pugnacious tendency was developed more consonant with the proceedings of Milesians than staid FreeKirkmen." The Witness has interpreted this observation into an " evident sneer at Free Churchmen." Our contemporary is entirely mistaken; we had no intention whatever, when penning the paragraph, of assailing the religious principles of any one. We simpty took the fact as we found it recorded, of a skirmish having occurred ; and without very deliberately, perhaps, enquiring into the details of the matter, and most certainly being profoundly ignorant of the religious tenets and opinions of the combatants, we wished to imply that the fray was anything but creditable, niid more impregnated with the atmosphere of Donybrook, than with that of so staid a Settlement as Otago. We are always prepared to render reparation where exceptions are taken to any remarks we have made on passing events. We therefore proclaim the fact, as announced by the Witness, " that there was not a Free Churchman, not.even a Scotchman, concerned in the affair, the whole of the parties being Episcopalians,, and one a distinguished member of the Committee of that Church." We entirely agree with the remark of our contemporary that the acts of " half a dozen ruffians" cannot fairly be saddled on the community they belong to, and are pleased to find that the disturbances for which Otago has gained, rightly or wrongly, an extensive reputation, are confined to so limited a number of individuals. The Witness would have pursued a more dignified course if, when repelling what was considered an injurious reflection, it had. abstained from making any personal remarks. The allusion, however, to a gentleman who recently arrived in Canterbury is, we must say, entirely uncalled for ; and we notice the circumstance as the simplest mode of rebutting the imputation that outremarks were in any way connected with or caused by his presence.