SOME OF THE CORRESPONDENCE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5081, 15 August 1884, Page 2

SOME OF THE CORRESPONDENCE.

DUNEniN, August 15, The relatives of the girl Bendall are indignant at the suggestion that they were in any way privy to what was going on lately at Christclmrch and Aslilmrton. A " f riond of the family " writes to the Star, denying that the gitl was ever in the employ of Bedingfield as a domestic. Sho left iwr mother, who is nw in Dunodin, in>

S critical state of health, her father being employed in the neighbourhood of Wellington, in order to take up work with the Army, who allowed her 15a a week, 10s of ■which was paid to Bcdinglield, for her board. The yhTs mother wrote several letters to Bediiigueld, insisting on the. girl's return to her home 5 but she alleges that she was always put oil with fair promises. Mrs Bedingfield herself wrote in one of licr letters to her friend :— " I am sorry I should have upset you by asking for to stay. I can quite feel for you. I have often told that were I in your place, I could uot boar having to live alone. Do not think I am selfish in asking you how lono- she can stay. I only thought it would •be better for us'all if you did not believe any of the reports, whatever they are, became you ought to know by thi3 timo how the Army is disliked. Rest assured < that should anything be wrong I would let you know directly. I promised you that I ■would look after , and I mean to keep that promise. I lovo her as dearly as I do my own sister, and as j such I treat her. I hope you will not worry yourself. 's heart is in the j ■work. You must not believe that she has changed. She is a clear good girl, and : will do what is right both in your sight j and God's." ! The husband, prior to this, had written thi3 precisus letter : — " I am afraid some of our Dunedin friends are very anxious to get our little lieutenant back again. She has not been very ill. Had she been so, I should have sent for you directly ; for when I came away from Dunedin, I promised you I would look after her, and take care of her, and I can say I have faithfully carried out my promise. Our little friend, Sergeant L., wa3 kind enough to tell me that lie was going tell you to take home. I suppose he did so, but I can assure you I have not made her work very hard in the meetings, although she i 3 a very great help to me. This station is very heavily in debt, over J2120 ; and when goes I am to do without any assist.ance 5 1 shall miss her, but I suppose the Lord will give me strength to do his work. But spare her as long as you can do without her. I was very ill on Sunday night after the meeting. I thought the dear Lord was going to take me home to heaven. The work is hard here, and results very small, but we are believing for great things. A Freethinker gave his heart to God on Good Friday at our hall, and has testified several times to what God has done for him. We get some rough work sometimes, and are generally honoured by an escort of larrikins, who are kind enough to see us home, singing things which you may be . sure are not Salvation hymns. May God Wess you always."