A FURTHER REPLY.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2729, 15 November 1871, Page 2

A FURTHER REPLY.

To the Editor. Sir, As “Mr Martini” admits in this evening’s Star, that 1 had removed from the collar of my jacket the “ outward and visible sign” of an ollicer, he has said quite enough to render reply unnecessary, and to show that there is not the slightest foundation for the shamelessly untrue accusation contained in his lonner letter. But I cannot allow this matter to drop without referring to “ Mr Martini’s” attempted description of my uniform, which not only contains several grave misstatements, but clearly demonstrates his entire ignorance of what constitutes a “ ride officer’s ” uniform. Perhaps like Lord Byron, he thinks - “ A man must serve his time to every trade Save censure—Critics all are ready made, With just enough of learning to misquote A mind well skilled to find or fame a fault. Lest this would-be Daniel should impose on the public, I beg to state 1. That the “ white cross belt” and ornaments worn by me are not peculiar to officers only. 2. That my “ cross-belt ” is not, and never

has been, tipped with metal, neither has there over been a ‘ * grenade on .the breast of it.” ■ 3. My would-be-critic ought to know that “ grenade” ornaments are not worn by “rifle officers.” 3. Every schoolboy knows that neither the sword-belt nor the lace round the shako are peculiar to or constitute an officer. Indeed the Volunteer officers at home, as a rule, eschew lace altogether, and in that and other respects, give an example to the force here, which it would be well for them to follow. AtJpresent, I am quite of “Martini’s” opinion that be is not yet of “ sufficient importance ” to make a fuss about; but as his attack is so purely personal, I trust he will yet summon sufficient courage to drop the alias, under cover of which he is now giving his own {unauthenticated and distempered version—a version to which he is ashamed or afraid to add his name ; thus hiding himself and his true motive from criticism. Critics, we know, have a perfect horror of being criticised themselves.—Yours, &c. W. C. Kirkcaldy. Dunedin, Nov. 14, 1871. [ As the correspondence on this subject has assumed a personal character, it must now close.— Ed. E. S.