THE BRITOMART FATAL ACCIDENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5637, 10 December 1879, Page 6

THE BRITOMART FATAL ACCIDENT.

TO TUK KDITOR. Sib,—lf the suggestion I mado the other day, that some one who uuderstood the mo Je of bringing distinctly under the notice of the Ministry the circumstances of the late fat\t accident at Fort Briiomart should lead tli* way, seems a superfluous ur olihious interference with the appointed duty of the Coroner in forwarding the evidence taken at the inquest to the Minister of Justice ! would put forward another idea which ui'iy be more to the purpose. I would Herald's leader of Friday last atiould uout out and forwarded by as many a; p oi . sible to the Minister of Justice, with such passages as," the poor fellow was tho victim of culpable conduct on the part of the eontractor for carrying on the work," underlined. One cannot think thai the Minister of Justice would object to perhaps an excess of stirring-up in the matter. At least cue would prefer so to think of the geutlemau occupying that position. Xo one cau say that there is anything which should ha regarded as of moro value than human life, or anything about which we should take moro trouble, especially about the lifes of those who may be compelled, by condition of our present social system, to risk their lives ia order to maintain themselves and their families. To disregard liuman life is manifestly insane and wicked, aud gives the fruits of insanity and wickedness. This disregard is the source of many evils amongst us. As, for instance, I think we would be unwilling to receive any portion of our revenue from the sale o£ intoxicating drinV s if we estimated human life and health at their true value ; and for this reason 1 have written this, that I may keep and incr ase in my own mind anil those ot others as high au estimate of the value and sacredness of human life as possible. For, if the conviction of its sacredueas is lost, 1 thiuk it would be better not to live at all.—l am, Sc., J as. Uobsox. Upper Queen-street, December 9.