Correspondence.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume IV, Issue 327, 27 October 1875, Page 3

Correspondence.

The Editor is desirous of effording every reasonable facility for tho discussion of public subjects; but it must be understood that he is in no way responsible for the opinions expressed by correspondents. TO TUK KDTTOii. Sir, —1 think many of us are just ft§ good churchmen as those of tho upper ton who toil not, neither do they spin, yet they can go out at any time in the da? and not lose their broad by doing so, nor be afraid that their children will go short of a dinner. Yet, sir, I and peopie like me who have to work, and must do so or starve, are put aside forsooth by tho high and power' ful of the place to secure their own sods, I must eay that to choose Friday afternoon for the drawing of the Church sea's was the cause of many not being there who wanted seats,' and are as ready to pay for them as any of the aristocrats, although our poor wives do not carry parasols, and have to work hard all the week, and only wear kid gloves when she goes on Sunday to the Church, as the village blacksmith says in his song, I say, sir, tho drawing should have been on Saturday evening after working hours, so that all might have had an equal chance. It is o tey to see there was some object to be gained by doing thi: business at a time when tho working man could not attend ; perhaps they thought h® would not like to raffle for a seat in a house of prayer. I say, sir, who gave these Vestrymen power to arrange a hole and corner drawing like this one ? Why was there not a meeting of (ho Church goers and their opinions taken as to how seats should bo given out. Tluso proud arrogant people who ignore ua now will not forgot to como to us for subscriptions to enable them to carry out their wish to have a grand church to go to, but I think if wo are nobody now wo will let them pay for their church as they seem to want to keep it private for themselves and families.— 1 am, &e, Working Man. —— - ■ -

TO THH EDITOR. Sih, —Attracted by an advertisement which appeared in your issue of the 20lh instant* to the effect (bat a lottery would be drawn in the new church on BViday, at 3 p.m., I, for the purpose o( verifying my own eyes that such things could bo, attended the church at the hour named. After wailing for nearly one hour I began to think and 1 ope it was a hoax. But no, sir; at four o'clock there issued from the Vestry a party of genHemm whom till that moment I had comi Jcrcd the m ist pious, devout, orthodox, and God-fearing of the com* muoifcr. And these men. sir, deliberately, in the very aisles of the church, drew a double sweep. Aghast and struck dumb with astonishment, I could only mentally paraphrase some words of Bret Earte; " Do I sleep, do I dream, Are things what they seem, Are there visions about, Or is the Episcopalian played out —I now remain, sir, jours, &c., A Dornmi Evkrideb. Tail ran gs, October 25, 1875. [We have received five letters in all on this subject; we publish the two “ wildest ” In a spii it of “ fair play and no favor” we shall be happy to publish two only in rep'y, after which this correspondence must cease - -Kn ]