LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 926, 20 September 1910, Page 6

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

THE PIBAKI "LOG." Sir,—Reference having been made to the above, and my own name mentioned in connection with it; both in your issue of June i, and in the "Akaroaf Mail" of : June 21, it will interest your readers more; perhaps, to receive .information concerning it directly from myself, than indirectly from the Hon. it. M'Nab. George Hempleman, until Ms death in 188Q, persistently refused to ■ allow ..anyone to peruse this 'log," but had promised that my friend, Mr.'Justin Aylmer, R.M., : should have it—in return for his many kindnesses to him—when Ho died; and .a. similar, but subsequent, promise having been made to me, tho then owner of the property, the log came back to its former home, as a legacy from Mr. Aylmer, some four years afterwards.' There has never been any secret as. to its', whereabouts, as the numerous applications for extracts from it that I have received will testify; indeed, they became such a trouble to me that, when I left New Zealand in 1899, I deposited the ■earlier portion of the MSS.—of which I bad then made- copious notes—in. the Christchurch Museum for. safe keeping and reference, and. only .brought away .with ■me the later parts, which are now on'their way out, on board the Athenic, in Mr. H. D. Buchanan's charge. . ..-' Three years ago, I had a verbatim copy made of this later portion (1839-14), and and this is what I.lent to Mr. M'Nab last year, at his own request.' When I did so, I certainly never dreamed that he would have ' other '• typewritten.( copies made from it, or would have claimed '.'while in London" to have "uheartnea Hempleman's journal of the Piraki whaling station, containing entries ud to 1810"; for one hardly expects' an: exMinister : to act'" in ■ this; way in •• respect to a.'copyright. .-Anyhow! I am : now:having the complete: "record"'(lß3s44) printed, as written, by the; Oxford Clarendon Press, ( with an introduction,! glossaryindex, map, and photographs; in .the hope, of making the early' history of.;my New Zealand, home both interesting and" clear. Need, I'say.'more; than 'that I.trust : a copy.-; may ,be in. your; hands before the beginning of .next; year?— Yours', truly,, :. r: : :p.;A.:anson,;: ; . .; Eastbourne,; August 4,, 1910. .'.;(.. (;, v^m Sir,—My attention, has just.been called to.-' Dr.:' Martin's.; remarks .upon venereal' disease, and, its itreatment, published :in The Dominion of September 13, otherwise I;.should sooner have ~transgressed; upon your space.. In the; course; of; his remarks he .refers to. that" agitation ■ in England which resulted -in the repeal thereof the. Contagious Diseases/Act,, and :in .the victory 0f... Josephine Butler and of those men 1 : • and', women * of . whom ' Florence, Nightingale was: one, who", shared . with' her'■. the • (same ( opinions: ,'Dr; Martin •accuses -them of not having gone, into the facts, and of being animated with a senti-. mentality, and good nature(which showed itself, in a course of,conduct that earned for: them the; name; of "shrieking sisterhood." ■ '■■ ■'■ 'V'.'- '-':■'' : .i''"-'. : r "■: ■ Now;-if Dr.-Martin realises the necessity for looking, at facts,,he will;have, studied the: facts ,of.. this . movement,-;.: and his characterisation of it ought to.'have,somo ;weight.. : .Will he, "or any one of .your readers, - give, mo' some facts'-', which'■'- will ; 'correct the estimation, many .have-formed. 1 of Josephine 1 .Butler and;her-.co-workers' j.as strenuous fighters for principles, -which - I.are' being recognised more; and■':more, to.day, but. which ;in ; the\ early,, ; 'seventies in"' Britain: brought- down. upon ..those' who,'acti.vely advocated'.'them tne coarsest abuse, -and' subjected, them tor dangerous violence?'-,'.- ■":;':■,-: ; ; '."'■•■ ';'.■.;... •.'.,-';."'.: :UTho(C.D. ;Act ,df JlßGG.in'.England 1 was" ■..vigorously, combated, because it -w'as considered.to'be the: expression' of 1 mode: of .thinking.':. Vice, in men'was necessary' Kahd.'yehial;' participated in ,by women .and;, girls was 'proof of a moral obliquity,which; ■ deprived-, -them. : ; of ; (.ordinary, humanity, and 'withdrew "froiri them .the protection of Magna' Gharta.- Where.such: .'an idea flourished, and where/the^lawfallowed men to. indulge :in( a vice.■: without loss' of social prestige,-.ybung:men:. grew: ,up( often to (think that.,early, initiation to vice ;was.a sign.: of 'manliness,' and they were confirmed.in. the idea, that the(world(and its;enjoyment:'was 'created' primarily for"- man—that/he had -'dominion over 'the :woman, '- ;,,'■:' .'-.'!;'-...' ■.''/ '-, .C, ."'•(;(:;.'•.''/;'(:-''; '.In New Zealand to-day you .will (.find ■women' who consider, >. that,'■'.-,iueh■'.' were : meant' to. take direction'in.a;matter.Which is of the greatest importance, to them; and consequently bring upon themselves,much suffering' and often; death."These women seem, to'ni'e to (be(the .successors to-day of. those who "placed .among: 1 the statutes : bf England the' C.D.Act^'ofi'lß66;--'.",'- ; .',;,/;; ■ .'Ought: .we'- not-then to consider Josephine (Butler-.and-her'co-workers ■ as (pioneers, .of that.'new civilisation l when- : wonien will rise to. afull 'sense : of; their' responsibili-' ..ties,: andspublic l ' opinion 'will .demand .of men the same sejf restraint?—l' ain; 'etc.i: HONOUR! to .whom honour is due..