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Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3095, 7 January 1871, Page 3

(TO THE EDITOR OP THE INDEPENDENT.) Sib, — The sponsors of the British merchant navy are very provoking. It is nofc many weeks ago since everybody was disputing whether fche last wool ship was tho Halcione, the Halcyone, or the Alcyone, or what. Now, the question is, "Do you call that ship Meleeta or Mellita?" In classicul circles fche unpardonable sin is fche " false quantity ;" and as Palinurus and Charon afc tho Queen's Wharf no longer speak Greek, they would like fco know whafc they are to say when their business concerns the last arrived vessel from England. When I was under fche rod I only knew one " Melita," and that was the island now called Malta. The "i" was short, not long, as mosfc persons here make ifc, and old Whackmore would have been down on any unfortunate wighfc who had ventured to say Meleeta, as Wellington beach does. Bufc, perhaps, the modern system of education has changed all thafc. Pray tell us.-— I am, &c, Watbbman.