NATIONAL PRECAUTIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11871, 24 January 1902, Page 6

NATIONAL PRECAUTIONS.

TO THE EDITOB. ' Sir, Whiles wo must not lose our heads.in our condemnation, of / Gorman maliciousness, and though wo must make it clcar to tho Germans who are living in our colony that wo desire thoir wool' either as fellow workmen or business men, in the present state of unrestamong, the nations, it is 'arrant folly to lot foreigners hold positions in our lighthouses, and especially in places where they have the guiding of vessels into our harbours. Several times I have been told of quarrels taking place in lighthouses not 100 miles from Auckland over tho Boer war, and only to-day. I was told - ofone plaoe where a German was prepared to ■! quarrel with his , fellow keeper on -the slightest reference to the war. I have: no wish to oust anyone from their billet, but wo must be simpletons if we train men who would doubtless act as spies . wore a war to break out. with their country and ours. .Germans who are so ready to take up the Boer cause would : cortainly espouse ■ the side of their own country under similar circumstances. I know of one case. where two lighthousekeepers took off their coats to fight over this question, and it was with the greatest difficulty tho wife of one of them succeeded in keeping poace between them. ' Since then there has been an armed armistice—a. nice state of things in a British lighthouse I — am, etc., S. L. ,P. Rxmmeb.