The Benmore Strike Case, TO TEE EDITOR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2104, 21 June 1894, Page 24

The Benmore Strike Case, TO TEE EDITOR.

Sib, — Having rea.d the letter written by the secretary of the Shearers' Union to the Minister for Justice and yourself on the magistrate's conduct in relation to the above case, I shall, with your permission, show the ground Mr O'Brien rests on for all his frothy indignation. His pretended wrath is apparently over the magistrate saying that "if was more than a mere coincidence " that the strike immediately followed Leslie's visit to the station, when the men were harangued and the then agreement denounced. The fact is, the strike took place within three hours after Leslie's departure. Will Mr O'Brien say it is " another aspereion on his union" when it is told that, after shear' ing was recommenced, the new men were subjected to midnight visits from union officials for the purpose of creating a second strike, and, finally, he himself, accompanied by the presidentelect of the Oamaru Union, went up to the station

to compel the men to come out nolens volens. It was all of no avail, although the two worked hard from Saturday evening till midday on Sunday, using all the methods "of persuasion known to the agitator excepting violence, which, of course, could not be resorted to under the circumstances. The bulk of the men saw through the self-seeking and the hollowness of arguments arid promises, and at last showed clearly they were not to be cajoled nor bullied into repeating the folly of their predecessors. However, supposing Mr O'Brien had succeeded, the chances are he would have had to listen to more emphatic language from his Worship than that complained about; but what can be thought of a man who will write as he has done in order to make the public imagine his union had no hand in Btirring up the strife P—lP — I am, &c, June 18. Sheepsheahs.

It is understood the Milton pottery work were last week sold for £550.

Telegraphic news has been received from Kagoshima, Japan, of the stranding of the British ship Drumeltan, on Nakanoshima, South Tanemura, Kumage-gun, on April 25. The vessel was abandoned, and the crew arrived at Nagasaki. The Drumeltan is an iron four masted barque, 1843 tons, and was built at Greenock in 1883. She is one of Messrs Gillison and Chadwick's Drum line, one of the finest sailing out of the Mersey. The line includes the four masters Drumali?, Drumblair, Drumbarton, Drumcliff, Drumcraig, Drummujr, Drumrock ; the last-named of 2900 tons net register, and the others ships of from 2000 to 3000 tons. The Drumpark and Prumlurig are threemasted ships belonging to the same owners.