MID-CANTERBURY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 3, 4 November 1892, Page 15

MID-CANTERBURY.

TO THE EDITOR N.Z. TABLET. SIB,— In your issue of 21st inst appeared a letter from yonr " occasional correspondent" under the above heading, certain parts of which refer to me in a manner wbieb, to say the least, ia hardly complimentary. I was, however, determined to take no notice of such a cowardly stab in the dnrk, but when, in a footnote to a letter from Mr John Scan lan, which appeared in last week's Tablet, you seek to defend the action of your correspondent, I feel that I am obliged to take np the cudgels in self-defence. Your " occasional correspondent " says your " Ohristchurch correspondent," in referring to the day's proceedings, announced that Mr John Barrett had promised a " munificent donation." May I &Bk who authorised your •• Christcburch correspondent" to make that statement? Neither publicly nor privately did I give anyone to understand that I was going to do anything •' munificent." lam not in the habit of holding out such vague promises. I have for the past 30 years contributed to every worthy object that has come under my notice, and I hardly expected to be sneered at in the columns of a Catholic newspaper in a manner, the mildest epithet for which is ungentlemanly. Personally, I did not think that such extensive additions to the church at Darfield were as necessary as the Bishop seemed to imagine, but when hia Lordship appeared to have his heart fixed on the improvement I raised no objection. As you know, plans were prepared, tenders called for, and that of Mr Prestide was accepted. That tender was under £200. The parish of Darfleld extends from Rolleston to the Bea'y, a distance of about 80 miles. One gentleman generously gave £50, which left £150 to be collected in this large 'parish. Do you think, Sir, tha% under the circumstances, my subscription of £5 wa9 such a bagatelle as your " occasional correspondent " seems to infer ? According to your " oocasional correspondent " Father O'Doonell has been accused of "egging on " people by distorting the amount of certain gentlemen's subscriptions. Had Father O'Donnell done so he must have had a very high opinion of the intelligence of his con« gregation, that they could ba induced to subscribe largely, not because the object was a deserving one, but merely for the purpose of " going one better " than their neighbours. I have read the Tablet since it was first published and I recognise the fact that it has ever been to the fore in the cause of truth and justice. Ido not blame you, sir, for anything referring to me which may have crept into your paper, it was impossible for you to read between the lines ; nor do I blame your " occasional correspondent," he is merely "the channel through which the filth floweth." But I blame that person who inspired him to covert a respecta b)e journal into a sink for the reception of a malice which he cannot justify, and dare not openly proclaim. Hoping you will find space for this in your next.— l am, etc., John Babbett. Ballinvilla, Kirwee, October 29, 1892. LWe did not seek to defend our " occasional correspondent." We merely repudiated a false charge brought against ourselves. We are completely neutral in the matter. We do not, however, see any occasion for the strong language used by Mr Barrett. After all, there are only involved a difference of opinion and a conflict of testimony, It is not a very grave offence to report a dispute of the kind —for which alone we ara accountable. We, however, regret that anything published by us has caused annoyance to any one, and we are, therefore, sorry for having inserted the report. If we have done any wrong to any one we apologise for it.— Ed. N. Z. Tablet.]