CORRESPONDENCE.

Kumara Times, Issue 1674, 9 February 1882, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

[The following letter, written several clays . is . a reply to one appearin',; in the Hokitika Star, under the heading “ Ah Editor’s Duties,” in which a “°Critic’' makes an attempt to upbraid the editor of this journal for not taking the opportunity at the banquet to the Minister of Mines of enlarging upon and confirming the existence of the wants of this district. The editor of the StaT replied:—“Our correspondent seenis to have rather an exaggerated notion of an Editor s duties. We always undefstood that when an Editor attends a public banquet, it is with a view of reporting the speeches of others, but with regard to himself, to maintain a golden silence. He has the opportunity of giving expression to his views in the columns of his paper, a privilege few men enjoy, consequently it is not only courteous but fair that he should not obtrude himself on such an occasion. Although the Press is usually toasted at such entertainments, it domes on at . the eleventh hour, when the guests are in too much good humor with themselves and the world in general to pay any serious attention to anything that may be said ; whilst, at the same time, the compliment is not paid to the re 1 presentative who may be present, but • to the Press, as a time-honoted institution. The Editor at the banquet in question merely followed the usual precedent, and our opinion is - that the comments passed upon him are as uncalled for as they are undeserved.’* Now, as a certain bilious and crochetty i individual has thought fit to question the authenticity of certain letters we intimated we had received, in answer to “Critic,” we now publish one as a sample, and trust that, difficult as the “Critic” my be to please, he will now be perfectly satisfied.—Ed. K. T.] . 1 1 •