BOAT-HIRING TO CHILDREN

Auckland Star, Volume III, Issue 628, 16 January 1872, Page 2

BOAT-HIRING TO CHILDREN

To the Editor of the Evening Stab. S IR> —I deny the whole of the charges. I did not let a boat to six little children. The boat did not drift out into the open bay. No person, swam off to their assistance. As you aslc me to be precise, allow me to say what was done. A boy about ten years old came to me, with a shilling, asking for a boat for one hour. I told him he was not able to manage a boat, when he pointed to two bigger boys on the beach who were going with him- I gave them the boat^ if they launched her themselves ; the wind N.E., with flood tide. So anyone will know the boat could not drift, but had to bo pulled out, and the boys appeared well able, as was witnessed by some of their friends who came down to look after the shilling and to thrash the boys for stealing it; not for going in the boat. The boat returned, after being out for a little over the hour, one of the boys pulling the pair of oars, several others sitting quietly in the boat. One or two, I saw, for the first time, were nursing little children ; but no one thought of danger, for there was nothing to fear in so large and safe a boat. They stepped on the beach in sight of those who tell you a person swam off to rescue them from imminent death. Two gentlemen who had hired a small boat, sailed past the boys in the boat and came in first before them. They have expressed their astonishment at seeing such an account published when the boys were having such a pleasant trip. Can I say more to say how false the accusation is that you have published upon the ex parte statement of such men. I am, etc., J. W. Care. January 16, 1872.

[We really wonder Mr. Can1 is not ashamed of himself. He essays to offer an explanation, and in all main particulars admits tho charges. " I did not let the boat to six little children." No, but he let it to one, aged eight, while the others were standing by. We have this day had in our office the children referred to, and we are really astounded that any man in the community would dare to let them oub in a boat. Two of them can just run about, precisely tho age when they are most iv danger of accident. The two eldest are nine years old, and looking at the whole boat's crew, would almost make one'a flesh creep at tho thought of their pushing out into the harbor. We will concede all that Mr Oarr states with regard to drifting versus pulling, and will grant him the -wind N.E. and a flood tide. But we will ask Mr Carr, from his knowledge of human nature in its juvenile form, what would have happened if the children had found tliemselvea bein carried off and unable to stem the tide. We venture to say that there are six chances to one that some of them would have jumped overboard and the rest would have followed. Bigger people have done so lefore. Mr. Carr states that they returned, one of the boya pulling the pair of oars, but he does not say that this ■was the elder brother of one of the lads, who had gone off the rocks to rescue them. We trust that the attention whioh we have directed to this matter will have the effect of prerent* in" Mr. Carr and others from similarly exposing children to danger ; and Mr. Carr may be very glad indeed that the parents of the children are quiet and peaceable citizens.— Ed. E. S.] •-