MR SIEVWRIGHT’S LECTURE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVI, Issue 11049, 29 August 1896, Page 2

MR SIEVWRIGHT’S LECTURE.

TO THE EDITOR. Sib, —In a letter which appeared in your columns some ten or twelve days ago, the Rev F. W. Isitt, referring to Mr J. D. Sievwright, said :—“ He read on the platform a portion of a letter I wrote him, and laid it on the table. The Chairman of the

meeting read it, publicly rebuked him for misrepresentation, and read the letter to the audience in condemnation of Mr Sievwright’s tactics.” This Mr Sjevwright denied, declared that Mr Isitt had lied, and that he had never read any extract from any letter of Mr Isitt’s on the platform. For Mr Isitt’s sake I have endeavoured to ascertain the truth of this matter, and have interviewed some of those present at the meeting referred to, and also corresponded with the Chairman, who is the Presbyterian minister of the district; hence the lateness of my communication. The facts are substantially as Mr Isitt alleged them to be. Of course he spoke from information given him by someone in this district, but the only point, on which he seems to he mistaken is as to the identical letter read. It was not Mr Isitt’s letter to himself that Mr Sievwright quoted, but one published in the Press last March. Respecting the whole affair the Chairman writes:—"Mr Sievwright .may deny.it as he likes, bnt the . account you have heard is perfectly correct.” It may seem a small matter to some. Taut when a Christian minister is publicly branded as a liar it is important that the truth should be known. People here who know Mr Sievwright and understand his tactics have learned to pay little regard to anything he says. It is not the first time by any means that he has quoted part of a letter or an article and refused to quote the rest. He really cannot distinguish between things that differ, and his utterances in Oamaru are quoted chiefly to be laughed at. In his newspaper correspondence he is so abusive and scurrilous that the Oamaru Mail has recently refused him the use of its columus. —I am, &0., * OAMARU CITIZEN. Oamaru, August 27, 1896. TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — I saw by your paper of August 24 that your correspondent " B. J.” seems to be highly delighted with the above lecture.

but not so well pleased with “ a criticisms. “J. 8.” owns | that opinions differ concerning the reverend Chairman at that meeting. I think “8.J.” nsed rather strong language in accusing “J-B----of cant, coercion, and bigotry. My notions may be ridiculous; thereds none I suppose perfect. I have been a member of the Church of England nearly seventy years, and never strayed from it. But' still I hold the same opinion, that it was not a proper meeting for the reverend gentleman to preside at. "8.J.” says the meeting was largely composed of prohibition larrikins.. He might have made a mistake and meant Liberty League larrikins.—t am, &c., J.B.