The Youth of Clutha.
TO THE EDITOB. I Sib, — In la«t Saturday's issue you published \ Mr J< S. Fleming's remarks re Thursday night dance in Balclutha when delivering judgment in Hie burglary caset. Sir, In justice to all concerned, you might publish the enclosed denial, which speaks for itself. Thanking you in anticipation, — I am, &o.». Balclutha, June 5. George Robebts. MR FLEMING AND HIS "NOTE OF WARNING." TO THE EDITOR. Sir,— Considerable comment and no little indignation have been excited am ong a large number of the residents of Balclutha by the remarkable utterances of Mr J. S. Fleming when delivering judgment in the recent burglary cases. We, the undersigned, who attend the Thursday night dance denounced by Mr Fleming, consider it our duty to trive the public an explanation of the true state of affairs. In the first place, neither M'Namara, his friend in Lawrence, npr any of his companions ever attended the dance in question, nor any other dance in Balclutha. They may have hung about the door of the hall and watched people going in and out, but there their participation in tne dance ended. Mr Fleming might just as well have said that M'Namara and his companions belonged to the Salvation Army, as they no doubt did the self-same thing at the barracks' door. It is hardly credible that any sane man, in bia sober semes, could bo far forget himself as to take advantage of his position on the bench (and on the sale evidence of M'Namara's evidently vile production) to traduce a lot of respectable girls and young men. Those who attend the Thursday night dance, although not J.P.s, are quite as respectable as Mr Fleming or auy of his relations. In conclusion, we should say that Mr Fleming's oowardly remarks in the Polioe Court regarding the characters of the girls and young men who attend the Thursday night dance Is a dastardly libel, which he would not have dared to uttev unless sheltered under the protecting wing of his J.P.-sbip.— We are, &c, JaS. DUTF. A. M'FIRLANH. Wm. Cross. A. Chirnside. G. Roberts. W. Walker, Chas. Doff. John Jjgffries. P. Hunter.
It is stated that Mr Dalston, acting-general manager for the Midland railway in New Zealand, will shortly sever his connection with the company.
According to the Berlin correspondent of the Standard, a report is again enrrent of the intention of the German Government to introduce a new cannon (the construction of which re* mains a profound secret) into the Imperial army. The change, it is estimated, will cost 20,000,000 marks, and as the present German cannon (says the correspondent) is at least as good as that of the French and Russian armies, the proposal calls up considerable oriticism.
An Auckland shopkeeper has issued a handbill to be placed on the door of his thop when closed on the weekly half-holiday. It states that the shop is shut "in unwilling obedience to an ill-considered, isbitrary, and unjust law, under which poor anorWugglmg shopkeepers (many of whom cannot afford to employ assistants, and are barely able to keep out of the Bankruptcy Court) are deprived of one-twelfth of their opporiuoitj foe e&iniDg aa hoaejti UviDg.^
The Youth of Clutha.
Otago Witness, Issue 2206, 11 June 1896, Page 36A (Supplement)
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