CORRESPONDENCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume III, Issue 110, 12 February 1853, Page 10

CORRESPONDENCE.

To the Editor of the LytteXton Times.

Sir,—As the Editor of the Li/tlelton Times and a Member of the late Committee appointed by a Public Meeting to investigate certain charges brought against the Canterbury Association, and others, I consider no apology is required from me to your Readers or yourself by requesting a short space in your columns, it being au established rule with all-Journals that lay claittt to respectability, that persons whom they attack, or amuse the public with, are allowed the right of answering in return; and in so doing, I am anxious to'expose the unfair Reports and False Colouring given to the language of the Speakers who were opposed to your parly, at the late Meetings; in the first place,

by your allowing yourself to be appointed on the Committee did not evince much discretion on your part; secondly, as a Member of that Committee, I consider, as do also many others, that your conduct was mean and unworthy, in using the immense advantages you possess, and have so used to hold your opponents to the contempt and ridicule of their fellow-settlers, through the only press in the Settlement, in your account of Friday's Meeting. You give Mr. Fitz Gerald ample space, and to yourself (who only modestly spoke a few words) about 40 lines, while your humble servant, whom you well knew was labouring under the disadvantage of a sore throat and hoarseness, you generously allow about 20 lines to a fabricated speech, and at the same time you have iv your possession the notes of what I did say. I beg to aslc your Readers, is this a fair or proper treatment, after assuring the gentleman who took the notes, that you would not alter them, and would insert a condensed report without alteration or mutilation? You are pleased to charge me with making several attacks on Mr. Allwright that you well knew was incorrect, having only once alluded to that worthy person ; you kindly omit my statement and give him an interesting speech. The doggerel lines you generously induce your readers to imagine were my production, you well knew emanated from the prolific brain of Mr. Wilcox. Also the many oh ohs, great laughter, applause, and the indescribable confusion yon were pleased to garnish the report with, were supplied by yourself—they being wholly omitted from the report taken at the meeting. Sir, I feel no surprise at any remarks in the leader, it being always considered that the Lyttelton Times was the Association's paper, and I am not singular in my opinion that your one-sided and mutilated account as given in your paper, has not advanced the Lyttelton Times in the estimation of its readers, and having been the cause of preventing another from starting in Lyttelton, that I am now justified is doing all in my power to urge the same or another party to commence a paper that will represent the feelings and interests of the settlers. I remain, Your obedient servant, B. Davis. Lyttelton, Feb. 10, 1853. [Mr. Davis is natnrally a little sore at the report we gave last week, and shows it. We defy him, however, to point out any serious error or omission, and with respect to his own speech, it is longer than the report of it supplied to us, which he may verify by calling at our office. We received two reports, and exercised our best judgment in extractingfrom them.]— Ed. L.f.

To the Editor of the Lyitelton Times,

Sir, —As the following facts shewing the tendency of the Law of Distraint as practised in the Akaroa district may prove a useful beacon to others, I trust you will give them publicity in your paper.

Having been cast in the Kesident Magistrate's Court for the sum of £19 19s. Bfd, at the suit of Mr. E. Hay, of Pigeon Bay, I applied for time to raise the money, which was refused me, and a distress warrant issued accordingly. I subsequently explained to the Magistrate that there was no one likely to purchase in Pigeon Bay but the Plaintiff or his servitors, and requested him to appoint a person to value the property to save it from being sacrificed, and was informed it was past his jurisdiction. Accordingly, yesterday morning the sale was effected by the chief constable. Mr. Hay was present with two people in his employ to purchase the property, there being no others to bid against them ; consequently it fell into their hands at a nominal value.'

First, about 25 cords of fire-wood, on and above the beach, for £3 3s. ; next, from 6 to 7 tons of potatoes in the ground (about 2 tons near ripe), £3 for the wliole ; next, about half an acre of maize, looking well, 10s.; next, about 20 rods of ground under turnips, 25.; above 1,200 cabbages and plants set out, 2s. 6d.; a good slab house with boarded roof, and good floor, £l ; also a lot of utensils, even to my bed. The whole stock sold amounted to £9 3s. 8d.,0n property worth between 50 and 60 pounds sterling. Is it not equal to robbery ? A. loan gets involved in Uiiiiculues—one crcdi-

tor lowers his demands to bring it under the district court, and the defendant's property is sold at a nominal value to the plaintiff's servants, he being present, doubtless, for their guidance. This may be according to the letter of the law'but if it is, such a law is both tyrannical and oppressive. By inserting the above, you will oblige, Your's respectfully, W. Partridge.

Pigeon Bay, February 9, 1853

To the Editor of the Lyttelton Times,

Sir, —I have been requested to acquaint the public what I have got four months' imprisonment for, hoping you will oblige me by publishing these few lines in the columns of yourL paper. In August, 1851, I took a house in Oxford Street, Lyttelton, belonging to Mr. R. Packer, of Clnistchurch, at £50 per year, rent, when it was finished, which was then to be done in a few weeks ; it went on till the Ist of November, when I entered into it still in an unfinished state, and when I had been there about a month or six weeks, I had a conversation with Mr. Packer about the house; he said it had been more expensive than he thought it would have been, but still he would like to line it and finish it well, but I must pay more rent, for it .must be £60 per year, which I agreed topay, providing it was lined and finished. He has not laid out 10s. on the house since the extra £10 per year was put on to the rent. I never had any agreement on the house yet, but there was to have been one when the place was done; it never has-been finished, therefore I never have had any agreement. It went on till last July, when the rain came in to that degree, and there being no lining inside, I was obliged to fold, my goods and cover them up tokeep them dry. I could not live in it any way. 1 gave a month's notice, and left on the 28th of. August, went to Ohristchurch with the key, and left it with Mr. Packer. I asked him to tell me what I was indebted to him, and I would pay the amount. He said he should not do any such thing as settle, but would take any money I thought well to give him on account; so I told him he should have none if he would not settle. I never heard any more till last November, when Mr. Dampier very politely sent me Mr. Packer's bill, balance of account and rent to Michaelmas, £16 ss. lid. I told him that it was more than what was really dve a but still I would pay it to settle. He would not, but summoned me before the Court, where the Magistrates decided that I was to pay the balance of account £16 ss. lid. and costs o£ Court,, and still held responsible as tenant for the house till after 6 months' notice was given, so that would amount to more than £60 for a house that no one can live in. I would rather see my dear wife and child begging bread in the streets, and I myself will lie here and die before I would rob honest creditors to pay such an unjust debt. So it is for the 161. ss. lid. I have got four months' imprisonment, and compelled to find my own rations. How much longer after the four months, I cannot say.

Please excuse all blunders, for it is not a y very convenient place to write in.

I am, Sir, your unfortunate servant, Joseph Ashby.

Lyttelton Gaol, Feb. Bth