RUNNING COMMENTS ON PASSING EVENTS.

Evening Star, Issue 2921, 29 June 1872, Page 2

RUNNING COMMENTS ON PASSING EVENTS.

To the Editor.

Sir, - I should be very sorry to allow Mr Thomas lledraayne to labor under the impression that my special reference to himself in connection with the so called Society for the Investigation of Spritualism, was at all intended to imply an invidious distinction. I gimply referred to the absurdity of placing himself—oqe of the most thorough and out-and-out Spiritualists—at the head of a society specially called into existence for the purpose of investigating the claims of Spiritualism to popular belief. This, I thought, would appear as selfevident as is the case of a plaintiff presiding over the investigation of his own case; but I was, in this respect it would seem, also mistaken. Mr Redmayne alludes to the London Dialectical Society, gqd tcjls us that it is" asserted : that most of the members of that society became spiritualists, as the result of their investigation, Whether this be so or not, I cannot say, but surely even Mr Redmayne may be expected to discover a slight difference between a person who becomes a spiritualist after investigation of its claims upon his belief, and one who becomes a spiritualist first, and an investigator afterwards. One might have thought also that the President of tjm Society, before rushing into print, would at least Ipave Iparned the proper designation of the Society, oyer whose deliberations be presides. Not so, however, Mr Redmayne, who calls it “ The Spiritual Investigation Society,” and this, notwithstanding the very first line of its constitution, defines it as “A Society for the Investigation of Spiritualism.” A comparison of these two titles will show that all they possess iu common is the one solitary word investigation, which I hope may be a good omon for the future at least, though it does not seem to have been much exercised in the past. I fear it would be too much to expect Mr Redmayne to recognise an essential and radical difference between the two designations quoted; still I think it will appear pretty clear to most ordinary mortals that a Spiritual investigation society should be c. imposed of spiritual members only, while a society for investigating Spiritualism should not include, much less be wholly composed of persons whose minds arc already made up as to the results at which they mean to arrive.

Whatever may be the prevailing feeling in New South Wales and Victoria, there is no denying the fact that throughout New Zealand the unfortunate burst up of the San Francisco mail contract is regarded as a Colonial disaster of no small magnitude. It is, however, some consolation to observe that throughout the sister Colonies there is

now a growing Conviction that the successful Opening up of the route, is a matter that must not be long left in abeyance; ana that New Zealand is entitled to much credit for taking the initiatory steps. It is quite true, that in both the other Colonies there was a pretty general impression that New Zealand had obtained the best of the ® a rßj ln > ®till, as it is now generally conceded that the main principles upon which the contract was based were sound and correct, there is no doubt whatever that future negotiations will result in a mutual understanding and agreement as to details; and the sooner such negotiations are opened up the better. Now that which has already been done has sufficiently demonstrated the immense advantages to all parties concerned that would certainly result from a successful treaty, it will never do to allow the untoward circumstances that have occurred to prove a very lengthened obstacle in the way of ultimate success. I sincerely hope that among the very first matters taken up by the forthcoming meeting of the General Assembly will be the San Francisco mail route, and that such measures will be adajjted as may prove speedily and permanently successful.—Yours, &c., _ Nemo. Dunedin, June 29.