BARNES AND INJUSTICE.

Otago Witness, Issue 498, 15 June 1861, Page 5

BARNES AND INJUSTICE.

To the Editor of the Otago Witness.

Sir, — Charitably assuming that .Mr. Barnes did not write or read the letter bearing his sig-

nature in your last issue, we will proceed to point out several gross errors into which his scribe has fallen.

1. Mr. Barnes did not mention to Captain Spence at Oamaru either the name of Mr. Jones or the circumstance of his having only paid jEC 7s. fur taking four drays and fifteen bags oats from Dunedin.

t. Captain Spence nerer admitted in Mr. Greer's presence that he had agreed to bring them back for that amount, or any specific sum.

3. We did not charge Mr. Barnes £4 each for his four drays as stated, but only two of the heaviest drays at that rate, and the other tyro at £3 each. Mr. Barnes is well aware of this fact, as, when he pointed out that the drays were not all alike, we showed him that we had not charged them at one rate in the freight note.

On the other hand, we have to state that when Captain Spence and Mr. Barnes came up to the office, the latter distinctly acknowledged that in seeking to make an arrangement at Oamaru with the former, he had not named the amount for which the drays had been taken up, for the simple reason that he did not know himself at that time what sum had been paid here. Mr. Barnes, from his own showing, appeared to have endeavoured to entrap Captain Spence into an agreement to bring them back .at the same rate as that at which they were taken up, without stating that they went by sailing vessel, or were taken under the usual charge. Captain Spence assured us that he had only promised to bring them to Dunedin for the same as the " Geelong" would, which is in accordance with the instructions we had given him to abide by the rates charged per " Geelong " in all cases. *

Although in no way doubting the veracity of Captain Spence, before adopting the course we did, we ascertained for a fact that he had stated to others at Oamaru, at the same time, that our rates were those of the " Geelong ;" and we elicited from Mr. Barnes that he had heard the Captain state this to others, though he denied that the Captain had repeated it personally to him. Mr. Barnes was violent on the occasion, without reflecting on the result which was to bring forward witnesses who were present at the arrangement between him and the Captain, and who can testify on oath that the Captain's version is the correct one. The public have been informed by both newspapers that we are not running our steamer in opposition to, but in conjunction with, the " Geelong ; " and as it would have been a violation of our agreement with the owners of the latter boat to charge less than their rates — of which Captain Spence was aware— -we are confident that he was as incapable of compromising us as we should be of committing ourselves under the existing arrangement with those gentlemen.

Fbkdekic Greeb & Co.

To the Editor of the Otago Witness.

Sir, — I observe in the last number of the Witness a notice intimating that leave will be asked to bring a Bill into the Council at its ensuing sitting, for the purpose of transferring the management and administration of the following land, viz., that piece of land presently occupied by Dr. Burns' manse, and that piece of land presently occupied by the school-house and schoolmaster's house. Now, Sir, I protest against such a course of procedure, on the ground that the Church obtained the first mentioned with the assistance and during the Superintendency of the late Captain Cargill, and the public knew nothing of such a valuable piece of land being given away ; and consequently it does not belong to the Church, as it was obtained in a clandestine or secret manner, seeing the application was not made public. lam credibly informed the Superintendent can recover these lands to the public if he can prove it was got in a clandestine manner, to the disadvantage of the town ; and I consider it the duty of the Superintendent to investigate the whole affair and have the matter cleared up, and get the lands in question handed over to the Town Board of Dunedin for the public use. I am sure, Sir, it would prove a great acquisition to the town in the shape of more funds, as I believe, if let by auction, it would bring something like 50s. or GOs. a foot per annum. Besides, Mr. Editor, would it not be a disgrace upon us to have it said by other Provinces that the Otagonians were a very selfish lot : they keep theij fish guts for their own sea maws.

Your attention was called some time ago to the fact that the Episcopal body resident in Dunedin applied openly for a site on which to erect a building suitable for worship, but was refused : and yet, Sir, when the Presbyterians apply in a secret way, they are favoured with a better piece of land for their manse. — It is of no use, Mr. Editor, but there are no doubt many in Otago as black as the late Superintendent.

I would also call your attention to the second mentioned, and protest against the same being transferred, on the ground that it does not belong exclusively to the Church. If I am rightly informed, the Terms of Purchase under the old Otago Scheme provided that the Trustees should choose one property for every eight that were purchased, such property to be held in trust for Religious and Educational Uses : and I can assure you, Sir, that the gentleman who made the choices did not pick the worst ; and, to say the least, it was very unfair to allovr them to choose the whole of them before there were properties purchased up to the amount ; and when Mr. Mantell was here as Commissioner, there were three properties chosen in excess. ' Is that fair play, Mr. Editor ? I do not think it ever was intended that the Presbyterians should have a school and the Episcopalians none, and I consider they have a right to education in the Presbyterian school as well as the others, seeing as I believe that in those days more of the purchasemoney came from England than from Scotland.

But to the point, Mr. Editor. I want justice, and love fair play with all my heart ; so let us have fair homey. What do you say to the Education Board having a share of the booty from the gents of the cloth ? It would be but justice to the public of Otago for the Council to place a «urn at the disposal of the Superintendent to try the issue by law 5 and if the Superintendent is afraid to offend any party, let him beware of next election who Hvcb to see it. Never let any man curry favour of another by not doing according to the dictates of his own conscience, but let him act and do what ho considers his duty without fear of any one, and I am sure he will be generally respected.

In conclusion, I have only to say if we cannot have what we want, we say let them keep it ; so can independent men keep what they have got. I say, if the Church keep the whole, let them disburse all their accounts from it, and the seat rents. Why do not they divide like honest men, Mr. Editor, and mortgage their own part or share of the Church property. Episcopalians who are original purchasers, look to it, for I believe you can claim your own by bargain.

Hoping these few remarks will rouse the attention of the public not to let a valuable property, be wrested from them, 1 remain, &c., An Qj,b Colonial Rough Hand.

By the last mail we have received the first number of "The Press;" a new paper publphed at Canterbury. ' The editor apologizes for the haste with whitfh his first number has been issued, and promises that in future it shall be larger and better. It is understood that " The Press " represents the views of, and

is chiefly edited by, Mr. Fitzgerald, the first Superintendent of Canterbury, and the First Minister of the General Government under the New Constitution Act. It is strong in its opposition to the present Superintendent, Mr. Moorhouse, and attacks the "Lyttelton Times" with energy and talent, but whether justly or not we are unable to judge. Undoubtedly, one charge it brings against the Press of Canterbury has good foundation, nanlely, that the two papers there published have no political views, and make no attempt to instruct or guide public opinion. In this matter " The Press" is not likely to be deficient ; and, if it be only truthful, which it promises, it will be an acquisition to the Press of New Zealand, and we wish it every success.

Macaulay. — It is stated in the papers received by the English March mail, that about 20,000 copies of Macaulay's fifth and last volume of his English history have been" subscribed for by " the trade."

Marriage on the High Seas — "We copy the following important decision from the Dublin Morning News :— -" The Court of Queen's Bench recently decided the important marriage question raised in the case of Dumoulin ». Druitt, viz., whether a form of marriage celebrated on the high seas by the captain of a ship was valid so far as to invalidate a later marriage, contracted with all proper religious observances, and with the intervention of a clergyman in holy orders. The court was unanimous in holding that a marriage on hoard ship, under the circumstances, can only be looked upon as a contract per verbn de prncenti, or a consentual marriage,' and thjpt its ratification by a religious ceremony was indispensable."

In excavating for the temporary grave for the remains of the late Duchess of Kent, a small opening was made into the vault which contains the coffins of Henry VIII. and one of his Queens, the Lady Jane Seymour, also the coffins of Charles I. and an infant child of Queen Anne. , The coffins, and even the crimsons on which are placed the coronets, were in a tolerable state of preservation, and the, spear hole in the coffin of Henry VIII., said to have been made by one of the soldiers of Oliver Cromwell, was clearly discernible.

Lord Campbell said he himself heard a judge at Stafford thus sentence a prisoner to death for forgery :—": — " And I trust, through the merits and mediation of our blessed Redeemer, you may experience that mercy in another world which a due regard to the credit of the paper currency of the country forbids you to hope for here."

When the eye is irritated by dust, or intrusive particles of any kind, the sufferer invariably shuts and rubs his eye, and not unfrequently the removal of the irritating cause thereby becomes more difficult. The proper practice is to keep the eye open, as if starm*; a sort of rotatory movement of the ball takes place, the surface becomes covered with water, the particle is gradually impelledto the corner of the eye, and is there floated out, or can be easily removed, without any of the disagreeable consequences that attend shutting and rubbing. Bridgk-of- Allan. — The " Glasgow Citizen" of March 1861 has the following paragraph :— v A number of years ago, when Ibrahim Pacha was on a visit to the Marquis of Breadalbane, at 'Tay mouth Castle, he took a fancy to a youth he saw there, and engaged him to go to "Egypt along with him. The relatives afterwards removed to the Bridge-of-Allan. The lad, after serving in various capacities, and with different employers abroad, at last became coachman to Halalamy Pacha, brother of the present Viceroy of Egypt, and son-in-law of the Sultan of Turkey. In a letter from him to his friends, a most extraordinary statement is made, being to the effect that the Pacha got two months leave to visit Egypt, and stayed six, at which the Sultan was very angry, and caused him to be poisoned with diamond dust.

" I do wish I could be cured of lying in bed so late in the morning," said a lazy husband, lounging upon his pillow. " Well, I will try the water-cure," said his wife, pouring a pitcherful on him. Waknimg. — A correspondent of the Bathurst Free Press says : — A rather singular and dangerous instance of disease from contact with an unhealthy sheep took place in the town last week. A shepherd skinned a sheep that had died in the flock ; in so doing he inflicted a small puncture in the middle finger of the left hand; about twenty minutes after the hand began to swell very much, which continued till the whole of the left arm up to the shoulder was inflamed. The man fell sick, and a heavy langour came over him ; he then applied to Dr. Flockton, who, perceiving the imminent danger ot the man, immediately gave him medicine. The injured finger was then scarified and mercurial washings were applied. About eight hours after the accident the hand and arm had attained a frightful appearance, mortification had evidently set in, the hand and arm being quite black, and the patient suffering extremely from lethargy and difficulty of breathing. The poison of the animal had seemingly been absorbed by the system, and the man felt weak ; wine was administered to support the system, and the mercurial washings were continued ; when after some hours of intense suffering the man began to revive. He is still under the doctor's hands, but is doing well.

South Carolina. — This state is, numerically considered, one of the most insignificant of the whole thirty-three States of America. According te the census of 1850 (and as far as the Slave States are' Concerned, the last census of 1860 will yield no material difference), the whole number of the white inhabitants of South Carolina amounted to no more than; 274,563 ; whereas the number of slaves was 384,984. The free and slave populations of the other Southern States that are most likely to ally themselves with South Carolina are as follows :--

Whites. Slaves. Alabama 426,514 342,844 Arkansas 162,189 47,100 Georgia 521,672 ......... 381,632 Florida 47,203 39,810

These are the Slave States which, according to present appearance, are the most likely to tread in the factious steps of South Carolina ; and it will be obvious to all who look at the above figures that, in point of real power, they form but a very unimportant part of the American demo-