ANOTHER STORY OF THE " MERMAID."

Star (Christchurch), Issue 1587, 22 March 1873, Page 2

ANOTHER STORY OF THE " MERMAID."

The following, which refers to a previous letter in the same journal, appears in the Auckland Evening Star of March 5 :— Sir,— Having read Mrs Allen's explanatory letter under the above heading, I shall feel obliged by your inserting a few words from one who was introduced to herself and husband by Captain Kose, of the Mermaid, on the arrival of that vessel at Lyttelton some few years since. They came out in the saloon, and Mrs Allen was spoken of with the greatest respect by the other passengers, being the first lady to introduce long or combed out hair, and the name of the vessel combined, was no doubt the reason of the sobriquet being put on her as above. Shortly after their arrival a ball was given in honour of the Duke of Edinburgh, and Mr and Mrs Allen were invited, and I well remember the royal and gallant Captain of the Galatea asking Mr Launceloi Walker to introduce him to Mrs Allen, with whom he danced the greater portion of the evening. During my residence at Christchurch I most certainly never heard of anything derogatory to Mrs Allen ; her husband was then practising as a dentist, and until reading her letter in your issue of Saturday, I was not aware of her being in Auckland. I therefore do not knovr the merits of her case against Mr Abbott, but write this in the hope that her dismissal from his establishment will not prejudice others from employing her. Trusting she may soon be in position to maintain herself and child — I am, &c, with due respect, Ax English Woman.