We are not responsible for Correspondents' opinions.

Auckland Star, Volume I, Issue 219, 21 September 1870, Page 2

We are not responsible for Correspondents' opinions.

To the Editor of the Evening- Star.

Sib,—ln last night's Star I read a letter from a person signing himself a " Ten Years' Subscriber," but as your paper lias not been so long in existence I suppose his make-be-lieve signature is as truthful as his statements in defence of the Secretary of the Mechanics' Institute. Your correspondent charges "A notlier Mechanic" with "gross untruthfulness" in stating specific charges of incivility and impertinence at the hands of the Secretary. I cannot see how your " Ten Years' Subscriber," even if " paying daily visits" to the Institute, and " noting the manner the members were treated by the present Secretary," could so warmly give the lie t > a definite and specified occurrence. But if your correspondent intends to convey the impression that the general demeanour of the Secretary is courteous and obliging, I, for one, meet his statement with the assertion thut it is disobliging and churlish in the extreme, and that I have never known an institution depending on the public for support where such discourtesy would be tolerated. I know many members who have left in consequence—myself among them —and it shows very little regard for their duties that the Committee do not compel the Secretary to treat people with common civility. The fact of constant discourtesy is known to everyone, and the letter of your " Ten Years' Subscriber" will not throw dust in men's eyes. —I am, &c, Institute. ♦ To the Editor of the Evening Stab. Sir,—ln reply to a "Ten Years' Subscriber," I wish to say that I am not " one of those curses to any Institute," described by him ; that I have given no grounds for complaint against me ; and that I am prepared to make an affidavit as to the truth of everything I have written regarding the unprovoked impertinence of the Secretary to me. —I am, &.C., Anotiiee Mechanic. To the Editor of the Evening Star. Sir, —Your correspondent a " Ten Years' Subscriber" defends the Secretary of the Mechanics' Institute from the charge of incivility made by " Another Mechanic," and says lie has never met any butono who did not say that " Mr. Talbot is the right man in the right place." In reply, allow me to say that I never speak to a subscriber or member of the Institute who does not say that his incivility is the cause of the failure of the Institute ; and that'the Committee, for some reason known to themselves, are afraid to interfere with him. — I am, &c, Rial Mechanic.