THE LATE MR HAWTHORNE.

Evening Star, Issue 3837, 11 June 1875, Page 2

THE LATE MR HAWTHORNE.

To the Editor. Sin,—Will you kindly allow me a unkfl space m your columns to pay a last tribute Of respect to the memory of the late Mr! ’Ha#C thorne. It is plain from the expressions 'Of 'rttgret and sympathy which are to be heard on nil sides tuat there is a general-feeling that a fed tragedy has been getting i itself enacted infdttr nndst: that a, frahk, loyal, and getterou*-' hearted gentleman has been iaiilv. hunted _to , d<mth. Though X !l»ay lava sufficiently definite opinions as to where the main part of this blame lit s,. J have no wish to express those opinions, as. a statement of them could do no possible good to the deceased .gentleman, or to his bereaved wife and children. But I think justice r , the . , late Rectors memory requires that i should state one or two facts which go to snow most clearly .that he was. not morbidly sensitive, and that mere opposition did -not attest mm more than it does any average man. I have heard Mr Fish mentioned as being tl«r cause of all the worry that, has produced such oomentable consequences ; but it was' not bW ihadmany conversations with Mr HawthomeuA whe subject of the resolutions proposed by Mr hisb, and I never bnce heard himcxpreu an opinion that those resolutions were not legitimate, or that they were advocated in, a way that could give just cause of offence; not did l ever notice that he showed the slightest sign of ill-feeling towards Mr Fish. ARtoblb . who know Mr Hawthorne well will beaTihe out m saying that he had too well-balanced a xnmd to be muchput about by fair and -hbielfc opposition. To one Ithing, Wever,' heMa undoubtedly keenly sensitive, and ithotHrSt palpably intentional in justice-—injustice which systematically depredated - hit 1. undoubted successes, which grossly exaggerated hi* faults—and he had fewer of these, than must. men' —and whose end and aim it was. rightly or wroagly.and at whatever! cost* t to\ rnwlaa toe Institution over , which he pi-esided- au object pf public scorn and coutempV rwf i ? i. C ?, uld , not this, killed, Jam,; One skilfully planted blow after aiiothor.ma* dually weakened the springs of .life, -and-He tell not mgloriously, for his work? surtivo » nun. Long After the named of his cowaraly foes have suck * into merited dblMbh. those _of his old pupils who had the benefit of close intercourse with him will remember Widi gratitude and'respect the Rector of the High school, who “ was done to death by'slanddhuft tongues.”—l am, &c., LfISUtDB;/ Dunedin, June 11. • ' ■ : ' * t - • -V