CORRESPONDENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8061, 23 September 1887, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE ROMAN CATHOLICS AND EDUCATION. TO BDITOB. Sib,—Your report of my reply to the question put to me at Devonport relating to a grant for Roman Catholic schools hardly gives my meaning, especially aii regards the latter part of the reply. I said I thought it would be quite right if th« Legislature coul 1 make some provision by which the Rom*' Catholics could derive benefit from an «dnc - tional system towards which they had t pay so largely.—l am, etc., September 22, 1887. Read** Wood. MR. CONNKLL'S CANDIDATURE. TO THB S.DITOB. Sib,—Referring to your artiolo pnblisbec in to-day's issue of your paper on the Kdei election, I may say that I published in your advertising columns and in all the other daily papers a specific denial of the reports' yon refer to, and circulated the same over the electorate (copy enclosed), and I have Oyei and over again at public meeting!, including nomination, given a similar denial. I again, and now specifically deny that there is aj shadow of foundation in truth for the report you refer to in your article. I could only.' <ook upon myself as a double«dyed scoundr* j were 1 capable of Seeking the suffrages of tb ■ Eden electors with the intention of acting the part of betrayer of their interests and tiuae* of the North inland in favour of the Son',a.' Your statement that no denial had been given Ido you the justice to believe must have been made through inadvertence aid not with any desire wilfully to injure my candidature —I am, &C, J. AITKKN CONNBLL. Auokland, September 22, 1887. CHAFF-CUTTERS. TO TUB EDITOR. Sib,—ln your issue of one day laat week there appeared a paragraph stating that the chaff-presses introduced by me were not a new idea, as one like it had been in use at Hamilton for the last two years. Now, this is a mistake, as the press yon refer to is one of the old-fashioned screw presses which have been in use in flour mills for generations. Mine is a different affair altogether,—much simpler, much cheaper, requiring less motive power, and in every way more suitable for the work, required of it,—l am, etc., Flat Bash. T. P. Adamso*. DB. LAISHLKY'S LETTER. TC THE EDITOR. Sib,—Will Dr. L,aishley inform os what is the meaning of the following passages in hi" "philippic" against the Government:—"l venture to assert .that any politician who preaches that the interests of the working man ... or that the religion* feelings of Roman Catholics, or of any other class should be ignored—is no friend to the colony, and especially an enemy to the interests of The Working Man." He also advocates that in future men should be returned to Parliament who would, among other things, pay "a due regard for the religious feelings of all." The only inference to be drawn from these sentences is that the present legislators have not respected and fairly treated Christianity. I challenge the doctor for proofs. Your correspondent is a clever writer, and remarks) of this nature no doubt heighten the effect of a letter, but are nevertheless inaccurate, and merely vulgar appeals to popular prejudices which the doctor should know have produced so much mischief in the past,—l am, &c, J. G. Cox. SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OP CRUELTY TO ANIMALS. TO 188 EDITOR. Sib,—ln the report of the meeting 6£ the aboveoamed society there is an accidental misplacement of a name in the list of officers which, with your permission, I wish to correot. The patron of the society is His Excellency the Governor, who has personally exhibited an interest in its operations. The vioepatrons are three distinguished personAges, each of whom has specially befriended the society—viz., the Right Reverend Dr. Cowie, the Right Reverend Dr. Luck, and the Reverend Rainsford Bavin. The remainder of the list is, I believe, oorreo* with the alight exception that one name i: misplaced. Will you allow me to add that ? thoroughly concur in the sentiment expresses by more than one speaker at the meeting, that the apathy shown in Auokland as to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is not a little discreditable, and that the impending ctllapae of the society, if this is allowed to take place, will be simply disgraceful. All honour to the few ladies and gentlemen whose exertions and liberality still keep it alive ; and especially a grateful recognition is due to the honorary secretary and to the legal practitioners, who generously hand to the treasurer all fees accruing to them from oases noted on the society's behalf. At the meeting of yesterday not one minister of any denomination in charge of, or oonqeoted with, a congregation in the city and suburbs was present. Good service was rendered by the Rev. Mr. Bavin and Archdeacon Willis, of whom the former is resident in Onehunga, and the latter in Waikato. Ido not understand how apathy on this subject can be felt by any person of humane disposition, or by any who desire to improve the tone of the rising generation, or by any who sympathise with the precepts and sentiments of the"'Bible. As there is only one paid functionary of the society, tho well qualified and efficient Inspector, whose meagre stipend is with difficult provided, the modest sum of £200 per annum, ie sufficient to keep the society alive ; in such a contribution too much for the generosity and conscience of Auckland? L am, die, A Member, ~ INTIMIDATION. TO HE EDITOR. Sib,—Can you inform me whether there is any law against intimidation in regard to the exeroise of the electoral franchise? If there is suoh a law, a case of which I have heard would seem to oome pretty near to it. It is, that a person who is m some way connected with the directorate of a great industrial concern has been pressing the employe's to vote for " his man," and intimating . that the "concern" will have to be stopped if tha Government are defeated—(is not that intimidation?) —aad, further, pressing the men personally to tell him for whom they are going to vote. How does this aicoort with the billot ?—I am, etc., Observes. THAT YOUNG J.P. TO THE EDITOR. Sib, —I did not expect any better answers to my queries regarding the appointment of Mr. Lewie to the Justice of %he Peace list, by his brother-in-law, the Hon. Mr. Tale, than those given by your correspondents, "BD.R" and "Veritas." But I did think it possible that the matter might be placed in a little better light. However, your correspondents above-mentioned offer no reason why a mere youth like Mr. Lewis should have been appointed. "Veritas" thinks it sufficient to point out that the poor fellow who was told to take fourteen days' imprisonment as the alternative to not pay* ing a tine of 5s and cost;,, was going to the gumfields. Now, does this not prove that the man waa in reduced circumstances ; does it not give colour to his own statement ia Court that he was not able to pay the fine ? Such, at any rate, is the way in which it presents itself to my mind. It is not sufficient for your correspondent "B. D.8." to say that I must be an opponent of Mr. Tole. This is perfectly true. I am opposed not only to Mr. Tole, but also co the Ministry of which he is a member. This fact, however, would not lead me to make a groundless charge against him. The real question is whether Mr. Tole did or did not quite recently appoint his brother-in-law, Mr. Lewis, to be a justice of the p«aoe * If so, on what grounds ? Regardng the scandalous treatment of 'Maxwell for allowing his cow to stray, your correspondent says the blame should be placed upon the older J. P. who sat with Mr. Lewis. From which I infer that Mr. Lewis wai there, no 6 as one qualified to offer his opinion upon the case, but merely as a sort of 'prentice hand picking up the rudiments of a judicial education 1 No wonder those in Court smiled; what would they have done if two striplings such as Mr. Lewis had occupied the Bench ? It appears to me, Sir, that we cannot bo too careful as to the choice of administrators of justice ; for with these lies the power of blatting, an innocent person's reputation for life, or, on the other hand, of showing favour to those with whom they may be connected by tie* of blood or friendship. Men of experience and mature judgment are needed, and certainly Mr. Lewis it not one of these. The nutter under notice still requires some explanation, and that independently of any political hut, solely in the interests of justice. am. &C.i Cbikcxx*.