HARASSED NATURALISED GERMAN.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16981, 18 April 1917, Page 3

HARASSED NATURALISED GERMAN.

APPEAL TO BRITISH FAIR PLAY. <From Oaa Own Correspondent.) AUCKLAND, April 17. Tkcro has been considerable correspondence in thu local papers recently regarding alleged activities of " Germans at large." Particular rotureuco has been made to tho case ot Mr Carl Beegner, ex-Gorman Consul in Auckland, who was interned on Motuihi Lsluiid over a year ago, and released a few months' later on tho ground of ill-health, which was certified to in the medical report. Mr Suegnur has now written to the Herald as follows: — '• When tho war broke out tho Government of New Zealand offered me to go to a neutral country and take all my books and papers with me or to give them up and remn.n hero quietly and do my duties as a naturalised British citizen of over 30 years' standing. I selected the latter course, trusting to liritish laws and fairness, and all my books and papers were seized. About 14 months ago I was taken to the island, but after some months my ago and stute of health were the cause of niy removal to my homo. After careful nursing by my dear wifo, who is English, I was ablo to

tako short walks of about a mile daily after several rests—and these aro my aooullcd "activities." 1 have to report* once a week to tho police, and am abandoned by all my former men friends, and have seen nobody since coming home but my doctor, dentist, banker, and solicitor. My principal occupation is providing for tho kitchen, as our telephone has been cut off. My wife, who has no maids, is herself in very delicate hcnlth. She hns to nurse, do all tho housework, cook, etc., and is, moreover, continually out of her life by idiots smashing my windows and throwing stones on the roof at night. I am still very ill, and according to my doctor can never bo well again, and to remove me to tho island would bo equal to taking me to tho cemetery at once. T write no letters unci, except bills, I receive none. I h.ivo practically no ono left in Germany after 50 years' absence, and I now appeal to British fairness nnd sense of justice against a few. very few, personal enemies of mine for the protection of myself and ray wife."