The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 1878.

Kumara Times, Issue 464, 22 March 1878, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 1878.

The time has in our opinion arrived when all farther allusion to the Hennebery controversy;—unless under exceptional • circumstances not likely to arise—should be - excluded from these ; columns.:' Our reason for ' taking this step is .because, by the general verdict of the public we have proven our esse,

'and the contest is thereby removed from the arena of legitimate argument. To pursue the matter could, therefore, only have the effect of further arousing sectarian feeling which we regret to say has, through no act of ours, been somewhat stirred. To remedy this we can only look to the removal of the disturbing cause; when doubtless the good sense characteristic of the vast majority of our and Protestant fellowcitizens will resume its sway, and pur hitherto united little community will return to its normal condition of peace and goodwill between man and man. Before, however, laying' down the pen (not, we hope, to be again taken up in the same cause) we must repeat that in adopting the course we did we had a strong sense of right on our side, and the unqualified approval of conscience. To have allowed the widely-spread seeds of a mischievous doctrine to be sown in our midst, without protesting, would have stamped us as recreant to our sacred duties as journalists; to have abandoned the campaign when the other side attempted by a flank movement to shift its ground would have been ridiculous; to have retreated in the face of a distinct threat would have been cowardly. We repeat that, steering clear of the nearest approach to sectarianism, a delicate and disagreeable duty has now been successfully discharged ; and if anything were requited to add to a consciousness of having done right, we have it in the scores of cheering letters and telegrams that have reached us from all parts of the colony,—from Auckland to Invercargill, from Hokitika to Christchurch.

In conclusion, we may now be permitted to say what we wish might have been said long ago. We desire to hid Father : Henhebery God-speed in his crusade against the crying evil of the age. We are sure that, together with us, he must—-if he be the apostle of Temperance he says he is—deplore that attention has beeu distracted from the ostensible object of his mission, by a controversy upon a subject in no sense a kindred one- Earnest, practical reformers are needed; and of the reverend gentleman’s, earnestness, there can be no two opinions. Possibly—we are inclined to believe very probably—it will in future be more tempered with discretion. If so, a most useful mission will be unsullied by party feeling ; and we shall wish Father Hennebery, as we would wish all social reformers, be they of what creed or nationality they may, God-speed in their crusade, and all the success they deserve.