LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1581, 26 October 1912, Page 6

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

THE FERRY COMPANY AND EASTBOURNE BOROUGH. Sir,—ln view of the newspaper reports of tho meeting of the Eastbourne Borough Council it would, perhaps, be well to explain tho actual position. Tho oompuny definitely nbandoned negotiations with the council on October 18. Tho council's motion thoreforo needs nu further comment. Tho stumbling-block in the negotiations has been the failure of the parties to arrive at an understanding on the question of tho relative positions of Day's Bay and'Rona Bay regarding tho order of arrival and departure of ferry boats. It had been agreed generally by both parties that tho service to Day's Bay of tho past twelve months should he maintained. Any further modification of that service not agreed to would have to be a matter for arbitration. Tho Ferry Company was quite firm on the matter of safeguarding the Dayls Bay servico. The council wished to have the power to modify tho order of departure and arrival as betwoert Day's Bay and Rona Bay as they thought fit. Hence tho difference. When it is remembered that Day's Bay is not in the Eastbourne Borough, and that tho service would bo controlled by an assembly elected by the borough, and subject to continual change, the danger to tho company and Day's Bay residents becomes manifest. I think that tho newspaper reports leave behind them tho impression that the company or its solicitors agreed to this modification, and that tho company wo* seeking something new. Such was not the caso.I am, etc., E. G. F.ZOHRAB,'Manager. CHRISTIAN MYSTICISM, . Sir—l'our leader on Christian Mysticism will Do appreciated by those who nave studied this aspect of truth. Tho works "An Introduction to Christian Mysticism" and that by Sir V.'. Robertson Aicoll, LL.D., are full of instruction. Tho world needs..tp-day practical mystics. You ■mention,'tho names of great mystics, St. lam among them. In such men as Dr. Johnston stated, "vigour aud efficacy" were combined.—l am, etc., a. T W, SHIRER. St. James's Manse, Wellington South, October 21, 1912. MR. ASCHE AND "OTHELLO." Sir,—Some of tho wags of the town suggest to me that in your note beneath Mr. Oscar Asohe's letter to-day, you deduct that the public attendance on Wednesday evening was not as satisfactory as usual, because they did not like tho performance although at that date they had not Been it As usj.il, hovever, wherever Mr. Asche and Miss Lily Brayton havo produced "Othello" but oae result has followed, and in spite of your critic's reflection on their business methods, la6t night thero was tho greatest difficulty experienced by the management in accommodating the public. I am willing to admit that in all our previous experiences the first of "Ot.lello" has always been our biggest in all .towns, including Auckland, the only other New Zealand centre yet visited, and as <hat was not (ho case in Wellington some disappointment was expressed in the presence of a member of your staff, whom we believed would understand that we were talking "in club," but to use your own expression, I could reply with perfect truth that Wednesday's houso was from a box office point of view not tho least satisfactory of this hugely successful season, and I am sure you will regret having inado such a misstatement, i —I am, etc., I CHAS. B. WESTMACOTT, , General manager for Oscat Ascho ana' Lily Brayton. j [Wo should imagine that "the wags of i tho toHti" bo whom Mr. Westmacott refers must bo deriving some amusement from ' tho cxtremo sensitiveness displayed to our I very moderate crilicis/n of Mr. Asche'sl "Othello." As to Mr. Westmacotfs state-1 meat concerning tho size of the house tor i the opening perfoimanco of "Othello," wo were inform jd that—largo as it was— it was the least satisfactory of the season' ■vvp to that time. Sinco it is now stated that this was not correct, it puzzles us still I more that such sensitiveness should have been shown to the views we expressed of Mr. Asche's performance in this particular play.]