Correspondence.

New Zealand Herald, Volume II, Issue 340, 14 December 1864, Page 6

Correspondence.

To the Editor of the New Zealand llbkalt). Sir, —A correspondent in your issue of this day recommends tlio members of the Harmonic Society to visit the Opera, and thus have an opportunity of hearing the works of the greatest composers artistically rendered. I would suggest that the three military bauds in the neighbourhood of Auckland should be permitted an opportunity which the Opera all'ords during the current week, to improve their musical tastes. Many military bands almost daily perform overtimes and selections from various operas, and yet. have never witnessed the production of any one ol them ou the stage. It necessarily follows that however well the instrumentalists execute their parts they cannot have that; appreciation of the composers ideas which can only be obtaiued by witnessing the performance of the pieces by a talented company aided by a good orchestra. No olio can doubt that both one and the other are now to be heard at the Prince of \\ ales Theatre, and lor tlie sake of the musical education of the bandsmen, and the pleasure and profit they would derive from seeing two or threo representations by the Lister Company, 1 sincerely hope the men may bo gratified by being permitted to enjoy what I am convinced they would consider a great indulgence. The expense might be defrayed iroiu the baud funds, which I fancy aie able to bear it. Should this not be the case, perhaps the men would pay a third of the cost of the tickets, and the band fund the remainder. I'm sure that oflicers commanding would require little persuasion to give their permission for carrying out the arrangement 1 suggest. I hope tlie talented gentlemen who are masters of tlio bands in question will not consider that I in any way redect upon their ability to instruct their bands, but tliov will rather coincide with me in my remarks. Yours, &c., c. y. C. Auckland, December 13. To the Editor of the New Zealand lleuai.d. Slli, —Tlie paragraph headed " Steamer Aphrasia," in your issue of the 7th inst., is calculated to convey such a false impression of the facts, that as prosecutor in tlie case, I cannot let it pass unnoticed. In the iirst place the seamen, (live not six) were not charged with *ruttlin<j the vessel, but with aiding and abetting the captain in wilfully running; her upon the rocks. 'Iliey were .not liuin'rubhi ut-qnilltil, but the charge was withdrawn by inc. as regarded three of the accused, and the evidence against tlie two others not appearing to the Kesidcnt Magistrate to bo sufficient to justify him in sending the matter before a jury, he discharged them. They are liable however to be reapprehended at any time, should additional evidence be forthcoming against them. Von seem, by t-aying the} - were t»bi l<> ii» (ht >'<.■<( Ilnii i-milill',,,- thi'msi-tre*, to insinuate that they were harshly treated, and sent adrift in Kussell destitute To my knowledge, the Kesident Magistrate, Mi-. Barstow, paid passages to Auckland for three of them, out of his own pocket, without a prospect of being repaid : the other two were certainly left to shift for themselves, being' considered to be utterly unworthy of any consideration —a conclusion every honest man must have come to who had heard the ease. As you refused to publish a former eommimie ition I addressed to vou, correcting certain misstatements relating to this ease, I shall enclose copies of this letter to other Auckland papers, with a request to give it publicity. I am, vours, &e., 31. Mmoi:l>. ltussell, 12lli December, ISO I. [The paragraph relating to tlie trial of the seamen of the ' Aphrasia' was published as forwarded by our correspondent, as reliable an autliorilv as' any man in Ku&ell. The To seems indeed to he little discrepancy between that gentleman's report and Mr. Mitford's, and that little is simply the use of tlie term acquitted. As to Mr. Mitford's former letter, lie would sec that what it referred to had been already corroded by the letter of our own correspondent from liussell, published the day before his own was recciv ed, as we informed liim at the time in our notice to correspondents.—En. X.Z.H.] To the Editor of the Nuw Zealand llkualo. Sin, —Mr. Greenaway begs to offer some remarks I on the statement of hi? ease, as it appeared in this ! morning's paper. December 13. I In the first place Mr. Ureenaway's instructions to Mr. S. .lacksoii, the lawyer, amounted to this —Mr. ! Jackson was told by Mr. Greenaway to draw up his title deed. Mr. duel ison did so, from the deeds re- ! lating to the property, to which he had ample opportunities of seeing, and was not hurried by Mr. j Greenaway in drawing the deed. Therefore the ' statement made, that Mr. Greenaway gave a wrong description of the properly to liis lawyer is incorrect. Mr. Greenaway was represented by Messrs. Merrimari and 15rook(icld, and not as stated, by Mr. Wynn. [The paragraph was written by our reporter at the last moment, when it was found impossible to find room lor the proceedings of the Court. We regret that the inaccuracies should have occurred, mid as the evidence is published to-dav the facts will speak for themselves.—Ejj. N.Z.il.] '