Correspondence.

Evening Star, Issue 3165, 12 April 1873, Page 2

Correspondence.

[We arc not responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents.]

INTERCOLONIAL FREE TRADE. To the Editor,

Sib, —Your contemporary the Daily Times, in its issue of this morning, seems to fear that there will be some difficulty in the practical application of free trade to these Colonies. I presume that no difficulty whatever can arise, as the productions of each Colony will doubtless be treated as if raised or manufactured within such Colonies as may enter into the arrangement. I believe that a similar system has been in force for many years amongst the states comprising the German Zo’.lverein, and has been found to work quite satisfactorily.—l am, &c., New Zealandeb. Dunedin, April 7.

TdE OLD IDENTITY PIC-NIC. To the Editor.

Sir,— The Philip Laing passengers have determined to celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of their arrival in this Province by holding a pic-nic at Port Chalmers on the 15th inst., proceeding there by railway, and winding up the day’s holiday with a soiree at Dunedin in the evening. As one of the veritable old identities, I hope to see a strong muster of the original passengers present ; and if they should be fortunate enough to muster all their progeny on the occasion, there is ijot the slightest doubt the;e will be such a crowd of genuine settlers as will even astonish not only the boldest settler, ’’ but the new chums, and the »ight be such as to w. r aut the Superintendent himself to proclaim the day a general holiday. I hope he will take this hiut—or at least it will not be lost sight of—and honor the event with his presence. Such is the opinion of an enthusiastic promoter.—l am, &c., D.M , Old Identity, Port Chalmers, April 10,

CONGREGATIONAL PSALMODY. A VISIT TO THE CHURCHES, To the Editor. A Dissenting Church, the singing led by a choir and accompanied by a harmonium. On this occaiion the harmonium was silent. The lady voices—trebles and altos—are remarkably good, the tenors reading their part well, but rather noisy, the basses Ugbt bat true. The first hymn was

of ft joyons character, and was well adapted to the tune “ Arnolds.” The time was good, the starting of the verses was rather marred by one or two of the trebles getting away rather hurriedly. The hymn throughout was sung in a boisterous manner, and lacked expression. The second hymn, C. metre, was sung to the chant Charlett, badly adapted, the tune too bold for the hymn. It was sang in a bold forte throughout, without the slightest attempt at expression. The Gloria was sung to the chant, and ended in an abrupt staccato instead of a flowing crescendo and diminuendo. Ihe third hymn, L. Metro, was sung to the tune “Mainzer the adaptation gosd ; time rather slow; the varied sentiment of the hymn was well attended to—the lady alto voices coming out beautifully in this noble tune The tenors took the sharp first in the second line badly ; the basses singing their part well. The fourth and last hymn, 104 th metre, was sung to the tune “ Hanover.” A tune of a more plaintive character would have suited much better. In the third line the change to the dominant key was badly taken ; and in the fifth line the change to the original key was very unsatisfactory, the altos and tenors losing their notes completely. This tune showed a great want of practice. The singing throughout the Church was vigorous, the greater part of the congregation singing the treble. The tune book used in this church is the Bristol one, but I could see very few throughout the church. I should like to see timebooks in all the pews, and a good supply for strangers.—l am, &c., A Lover op Psalmody. Dunedin, April 12.

THE “DAILY TIMES” AND IMMIORATION. To the Editor,

Sir,— For once in my life lam constrained to rush into print. The accidental perusal on my prt of the leader in your contemporary of Wednesday last, followed up by the receipt of a letter from a friend, an old colonist in England, by the mail to-day, have proved too much for my s’lent propensities. The article in question purports to find great fault with a Dr A. H. Millar, who has been writing down New Zealand, while the letter of my correspondent goes to show that the Daily Time* is itself the means of inflicting far greater injury upon the Colony than Dr Millar can possibly accomplish. The following is an extract from the letter: —“Your Otago people are quite incomprehensible to those at a distance. Articles are inserted in the papers quite sufficient to ruin any country. It would appear as if the gratification of personal spleen was the all and in all of the editor of the Daily Times and Witness. There have been long dissertations on the Government borrowing money to pay interest on loans. These articles have given the friends of New Zealand a good deal of trouble. People possessed of capital look long before they decide upon going to a country so encumbered as New Zealand is said to be with debt, and whose statesmen are such arrant fools or knaves as the < tago Chirper tries to makes out. Fortunately the cat gets out of the bag occasionally. In their anxiety to laud or support the Stafford Ministry, the true position of affairs is stated.”

“ There can be no doubt that the condition o£ tbe Consolidated. Fund is at tile present time much more satisfactory than thoughtful people had ventured to think it would he. To mako it so has been the great end and aim of all Mr Vogel’s financial schemes.” “Lears require good memories,” but even the best slip at times, as exemplified by the above extract. My correspondent further says :—“I had a long conversation with a gentleman the other day, who felt much inclined to go out to you, but was deterred by the statement alluded to above, which he has seen in the Daily Times. I was very sorry that I had not observed the article, from which I have copied the extract, as I could have supplied the antidote from the viper which causes che mischief.

I shall not comment upon the matter far* ther than to add, that I received a letter some two or three years ago from another correspondent in England, in which he pointed out much more forcibly than the writer of the letter above quoted, the deterrent influence which the articles in the Daily Times exercise, upon emigration to Otago. He stated that the lucubrations of Mr J. 0. S. Grant and the anonymous traducers of the Province, in the People's Journal were innocuous as compared with those of the socalled leading journal, as it was supposed to be a reflex of public opinion in the Province, and, therefore, entitled to some weight. If there be any truth in the adage, that “It’s a dirty bird that ’flies it’s ain nest,” then most assuredly your contemporary is anything but clean. To me it is a matter of amazement that the people of Otago, and especially people in Dunedin, 'whoge prosperity is so intimately dependent upon that of the Province, should continue to tolerate a journal which prostitutes the functions of the Press to personal spleen, and has been more influential in deterring suitable immigrants from our shores than has even the Maori war itself. I enclose my card.—Yours, An Old Settler,