CORRESPONDENCE CONDENSED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9308, 18 September 1893, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE CONDENSED.

"' Dum Tacent Clamant " says there will bt satisfaction at the statement made by the Premier that punishment for crime should be less severe. Such punishments make criminals outcasts from society. Their support, and often that of their families, is thrown upon the State. Capable men havaa difficulty in finding work, much less the man who has been an inmate of a prison. It is a pity some of our Judges do not temper a little more mercy with justice. " Silt " writes : — Mr. Campbell's letter is, rather amusing. He says : "Ihe streets are swept by nor' westers into the only natural outlet, the harbour. How, then, can the city authorities stop that?' He adds that from a grating at the foot of College Hill within' the last three months he is certain that not less than fifty tons of silt have been removed. If so, it is evidently not allowed to go into the harbour ! Is it net probable that before ever a city grew up mor" soft clay and earth and less water found its way to the harbour to be scoured away by the strong tidal action and that it is to reclaimed grounds and the check to tidal action we may more readily lay the cause of the silting up of some parts in the vicinity of the wharves. "An Abstainer of 57 Years " controverts Dr. Bakewell's arguments in favour of moderate drinking. She says : —" Women do not need beer or any other intoxicating drinks, as my own experience and many other abstaining mothers can prove. We have reared large families without the aid of stimulants. They are now strong, healthy, happy men and women, respectable lawabiding citizens." Mr. H. Crispe, Mauku, comments strongly upon the way in which discussions have been conducted in the House this session. There has, he says, been a great deal of disorder and of unparliamentary language. The Rev. Fred H. Spencer writes in reference to statements that have been made about the neglected state of many country districts in religious matters. He says:—"l feel the fault lies with the laity, who, as a body, with a few prominent exceptions here and there, do nothing whatever of practical moment towards the maintenance and increase of religious advantages. What many expect ministers to live on I don't know. Many persons will spend as much in one day in feeding their households as they give towards all religious matters of every sort in the course of the year, and many don't do as much as this. Having had opportunities of seeing religious work in various parts of the colony, I find very little variety. Threepenny pieces are eagerly sought for, in order that something may be put into the offertory, to appear well in the sight of others —but no regard is Eaid to Him in whom we live and move and ave our being, and who is especially present; in all our congregations. Let all endeavour j to support what opportunities they at present ' possess by their presence (often doutbless at ' considerable loss of. time and a long trip) and hearty co-operation, by rigidly maintaining the sanctity of the Lord's day—devoting it to religious , exercises and divine worship by giving to their ministers adequate maintenanceby seeing that their children are religiously educated, ' and then the Lord Jehovah will open the windows of Heaven and pour you out a blessing that ther ! shall not be room enough to receive it.