CORRESPONDENCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume III, Issue 148, 5 November 1853, Page 5

CORRESPONDENCE.

To (he Editor of the Lytteltan Times. Sir, —I am astonished to find by the Lyttelton Times of October loth which has been forwarded to me this day, that my correction of a paragraph that appeared in your paper of Sept. 17th has called forth an angry answer from Mr. Caverhill. In a former note I expressed my regret that anything should have occurred in this scabby transaction to annoy Mr. Caverhill : and I confess I am quite at a loss to account for the virulence, aud illtemper which he discovers in the letter before .me. I can only ascribe this indecorous warmth in

a man of Mr. C's suavity of manner, to that deep and abiding antipathy which his countrymen are known to bear to a certain prevalent, national, distemper which makes any allusion to a cutaneous disease insufferably annoying to them. I am charged with employing an assistant in these my scabby lucubrations. I wish your friend would name the Imp to whose genius I am supposed to be indebted. I understand from some persons in town that a Mr. Birch—a gentleman whom I have not the honour to know personally,—was spoken of as the Literary Father of Mr. Caverhill. I do not vouch for the accuracy of this report: on the contrary, I consider it an illnatured insinuation to suppose that Mr. C. is not capable of fighting his own battle. I mention this in common justice to your friend. It is very unfair that a report should be circulated to his manifest disadvantage without giving him an opportunity of denying it. I am sure there are many persons who will support me in this view of the matter, because anyone who will take the trouble to peruse Mr. C's letter will at once perceive that he is eminently qualified to shine in that particular species of composition which usually adorns the columns of Colonial newspapers. Indeed, so fully convinced am I of the truth of this, that I am as much astonished at my own temerity in presuming to cope with a man of Mr. C's literary calibre, as that gentleman professes to have been by the decision of the bench of Magistrates. In fact, "Ap I had known that he was so cunning of fence, I'd have seen him damned before, I'd have fought him." I am not imbued with so large a measure of the Spirit of the Times as woul I enable me to repbv to your friend in his own strain of scurmlous personality. Ido not intend to pursue any further this unprofitable correspondence, as any remarks of mine wo tad of course be followed on the part of Mt. C. with another application of the Birc/i. One thing more I may observe: in Mr. C's selection of a name for me he is extremely happy; he calls me a "great Qaixotic Protectionist.'' How prone we are to parade our learning! Now, talking of names, this is a more euphonious appellation than that which Mr. C. himself bears. In addition to the high character for veracity which he has always borne, nine-tenths of your readers may probably give him credit for being more deeply read than other folk in Spanish literature. "Before concluding"—as Mr. C. observes in the middle of his letter, —I do hope that this matter will end here. Let me entreat that your readers may be spared the infliction of a repetition of that hackneyed phraseology that is attempted to be foisted on them as the genuine production of Mr. Caverhill's pen. I remain, Sir, Your obedient Servant, Robert Higgijn-s. Puki Riki, Oust Valley, 27th. October.

To the Editor of the Lyttellon Times. Sir, —"' .Elector's'' objections to the imprisonment, clause in the Scab Bill now before the Provincial Council, seem to be of two kinds. Ist, doubt as to the legal power of the Council to enact such a clause : and 2ndly. doubt as to the necessity for such a punishment. In reference to the first perhaps you will allow me to point out. that, the Constitution Act gives to th'j Council authority to make laws '' so f;ir as relates lo the trial and punishment of such oil'ences ;is now or may by the criminal hiw of Now Zealand be pimiskcv'<ic in a nummary iccy.'' The oifence of driving scabby sheep, is. under the present Si-ab Ordinance, punishable in a summary way. therefore clearly within the powers of the Council, Xiio new Bill merely

substitutes an efficient for an absurdly inefficient punishment. With respect to the second point above enumerated, " Elector" seems to labour under some misapprehension. The ordinary driving, &c, of infected sheep would not subject a person to imprisonment ; this penalty would only be incurred if it could be clearly proved that the offence had been wilfully committed, when the driver kneiv that the sheep were diseased. This would doubtless be a case of rare occurrence, but if any individual should be found, who, undeterred by a fine, would wantonly expose his neighbours to' the ruinous consequences which such a proceeding might entail, a short sojourn in the jail would, in my humble opinion, be no unfit reward for his conduct. The recognition by "Elector" of the necessity for some stringent measures in reference to the Scab, will be heartily shared by all those who have had the misfortune to earn any experience on the subject, and among the rest by Your obedient. Servant, A Sufferer. Christchnrch, Nov. 3.

To the Editor of the Lyttelton Times. gig, —I "aye learnt with extreme regret that, owh;.i to sorae misunderstanding between the Harbour master and Major Hornbrook, th; c latter gentleman has sent the flags, so rec'en,b r purchased by public subscription, to CvaP tain Parsons, and has (declined telegraphing ' vessels in future from Mount Pleasant. Major Hornbrook must see, on reflection, that tht'. public have nothing to do with this misunderstanding; and his declining to telegraph is \a serious loss to the inhabitants, with wikpm he had no occasion of quarrel, and frosii.whom he has experienced a proof of regard f°r his valuable services in the purchase of a telescope, flags, &c. Let me express a hope, however, that Major Hornbrook will not make the public suffer for what they are innocent of—a presumed want of courtesy on the part of the Harbour-master. He is too amiable and good-natured to be thus bard on those who have ever apprecia- : ted his services. From his elevated position on the Mount, he should be above allowing a personal pique to cause annoyance to the public Could Major Hornbrook have anticipated the distress of mind he has " plunged a most amiable gentleman, at Christehurch, rinlo, whose chief pursuit was an hourly inspection of the Flag-staff, and whose occupation is now gone, he would never have taken a step which has thrown that gentleman intoa profound melancholy, alarming his friends and acquaintances for the possible consequences. For public and private reasons, therefore, let me hope that Major Hornbrook will .resume the duties he has hitherto so effici.ently and handsomely undertaken. I am, Sir, Your obedient Servant, M. P. C. .Council Chamber, Nov. 3.