THE REV. MR WATERS AND THE REPORTERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4029, 16 January 1875, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE REV. MR WATERS AND THE REPORTERS.

;ThelteY. Mr Waters, as the Synod was about, to rise last evening, made an explanation as to his statement regarding the special reporters of the Dunedin press.at iheCluthaPresbyteryoa a late memorable occasion, , Replying to i the paragraph in the Times of yesterday, and the letter in the Guardian of the same date, from the reporters of that journal; he said that, the expression which he (Mr Waters) had made was apt to be misunderstood. He had not thought he reflected on the reporters, nor had he meant to say anything that might be ■ unfair to them. The expression that the reporters were absent making themselves comfortable was made in a ■ sort of joke —he never meant it in any bad sense.. It might have been taken to mean that they were away indulging—it was never in his mind to have it so understood. The night was a cold night, which suggested itself to him that they were away getting a cup of tea-getting themselves warmed. They, however, had explained that they went to the telegraph office to telegraph a short report to Dunedin. He saw there was a short report which might have taken a considerable time— they were absent a considerable time. He tabled a deliverance which did not appear in the reports. It was suggested to him by one person after reading what had appeared in the matter, that the reporters had been away taking their toddy; but he could assure them (the Synod) there was not the least sign of that, aud he never meant it in that sense. The members of the Presbytery did not invite the reporters to dinner. They usually invited strangers, but they forgot to ask the reporters, and the short timo they were at dinner the reporters worn employed at their business. He had thought that when the reporters went away they just went to tako a cup of tea, but they now explained they went to the Telegraph Office. At the time they went Mr Baunerman had replied, and they might have thought there was nothing of importance then except the deliverance. Mr Waters, having said this much, was about to criticise one of the reports which he said was " substantially accurate," whereupon Dr Stuart interjected -"Not worth while entering into it;."—Reporters arc fallible, and while exercising the greatest care, may make mistakes — like Mr Waters, their sentences may be liable to misconstruction—but we hear all that Mr Waters can allege against either of the reports is the omission of Am deliverance, and, in the case of our contemporary an error which is evidently a printer's ono, and which is self-apparent to a mind of ordinary intelligence, the context supplying the idea sought to be convoyed. But we daresay Mr Waters will bring his microscopical powers of examination to work, aud with his knowledge of exegesis, hermeneutics, Ac, will discover a few more. Mr Waters gives the reporters credit for being engaged at their reports while others were at dinner; for-subordinating their appetites to a sense of duty. Reporters not unfreqiunt y do this during "adjournments, when the peoplu dine-they seize the opportunity to " write- up"—and, without questioning Mr Waters's zeal, we doubt very much whether he would do the same. It should he mentioned that last evening, at the Synod, the Key. Mr Cliisholm said he was glad Mr Waters made the explanation. Hfi (Mr Cliisholm) had not heard very well what Mr Waters said. When ho saw it in print he was astonished, because he could testify to the patient labour tho reporters had exercised ; their exemplary patience"during that protracted discussion.