CORRESPONDENCE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 245, 14 October 1881, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE NAVAL BRIGADE AT MOTUEKA To the Editob ov thb " Evening Mail." Sie — In the two previous issues of your paper there have appeared letters from Motueka residents commenting on the conduct of the Naval Brigade while at that place on Sunday last. The charges made are of a very vague character; a specific one the writers were afraid to make. The author of the first letter appears to have had more re freshment iv him than his stowing capacity is registered for, otherwise he would never have written such a gushing effusion, which is a tissue of gross absurdities from beginning to end. That certain members^of the Brigade misbehaved themselves I do not deny, but not to such an extent as that mentioned by " Beta," who, as everyone who has read his letter must admit, is actuated by petty spite in making such unfounded statements, to do which he must have taxed his ingenuity to its utmost tension and drawn upon his imagination to a considerable extent. He, however, is quite right in presuming that the Brigade is partly disorganised, and it will be so long as the present captain retains command. As for " Anti-Larrikin," he should have left out the prefix, and then be would have stood in his real character — a Motueka larrikin. He is well known to the Brigade as having on previous occasions regarded them as trespassers when they chose to pay a visit to that quiet spot, and he is also known to be a large grower of hops, and occasionally imbibes more of the liquid than is good for him. He should remember the old adage, "' Those in glass houses should not throw stones."-— I am, &c, A Jack Tab. To THE EdITOK OS 1 THE '* EVKITCNG MAIL" Sib,—" Beta" in his remarks re the visit of the Naval Brigade to Motueka seemi to have had his pious feelings stirred with the music of the Band, which he asserts was two tin whistles and a drum. This statement alone plainly shows "Beta" to be a wilful perverter of the truth, and that his remarks are not to be relied upon. "Beta" has a grudge against the Brigade as a body, thereby making the whole corps suffer through the misconduct of two •or three members " Beta " states that their conduct put him in mind of a canteen on a Saturday night instead of a peaceful Sunday afternoon. If there was such a thing as a canteen in Motueka I should say "Beta" had been there on the Saturday night prior to the arrival of the Aurora, for his perception must have been very dull when he could not tell the difference between two tin whislleß and a drum, and a fife and drum band composed of sixteen men. With regard to " Anti-Larrikin's " letter I put him down to be in league with otfe of those birds that swim in the water with web feet and a curly tail.— l am &c , A P.O.