Correspondence.

Wanganui Herald, Volume IV, Issue 1114, 11 March 1871, Page 2

Correspondence.

THE « PIONEER" AND THE PRIESTS. {To the Editor of the Evening Herald) Wanganni, March 11, 1871. Sir,—May I request space for a few lines m explanation of what appeared in the Chronicle of yesterday respecting the s. s. Pioneer. The editor" of this journal says: —" She towed the Canterbury down the river this morning, but failed* to allow for the greater draught of the schooner, and barely escaped leaving her on the Putiki shore." The fact is that the Pioneer was too light, and the screw would not grip; so I advised Captain Yorke to drop his anchor until I took in more ballast. This he did, and the Canterbury- was safely towed out by the next tide." It is totally false that I did not know the channel, or that I was not in the centre of it. I must complain of the contemptible sneers of that pretence for a newspaper. The "navigators" he refers to are more qualified for their work than the editor of the Chronicle by all appearance is for his. I regret to hear that the Rev Mr Ehnslie has been interfering with the legitimate trade of the Pioneer, and I hope the same gentleman has not bsen descending to his priestly influences in the Chronicle. The Pioneer has been well spoken of by the press as a creditable instalment of local enterprise and I appeal to the public for fair play. I am, &c, Jamks Shepherd, Master of the Pioneer.