CORRESPONDENCE.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume I, Issue I, 10 December 1842, Page 159

CORRESPONDENCE .

To the Editor of the Nelson Examiner. Sir — The character of any man, however humble his station in life, is dear to himself, but is of more especial importance if he be the head of a family; and believing that a report of a certain trial, in which I was the accused party, has a tendency to lessen my reputation, I beg to be allowed to state some facts respecting the case, which will, I trust, clear me from those imputations under which my name now labours. lam further induced to make the following statement, to show how hardly the decision of the Police Magistrate bears upon me — how I have suffered in my property, and what inconvenience and disappointment my family and myself have undergone owing thereunto. In the police report in your last week's paper it is stated that I had kept property belonging to a person named Skillicorn, in security for money owing to me, and that I had taken the property on board the ship New Zealand. Now, what was the property ? • An empty chest, without lock or key, an old frock coat, and a pair of trowsers much worn j the utmost value of which could not be more than 355., whilst he owed me, for board and lodging, 50s. I gave Skillicorn notice that I was about to leave Nelson, when he said he would not pay the sum he owed, and that he would take out a warrant for his goods in my possession ; and afterwards, when I demanded my discharge, I offered to give up the property, and likewise to forgive Skillicorn the debt, but the magistrate was inexorable. I was taken into custody on Wednesday, on which day Skillicorn appeared as evidence ; but the case was not concluded. I was then remanded for one day, but was detained in durance^vile during Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday." As Skillicorn never appeared, I demanded to be set at liberty, but was refused, though I sent to the magistrate on Friday to inform him that the ship New Zealand was under weigh, and was detained until Saturday, when the magistrate told me I might go about my business, Skillicorn having left by the cutter Pickwick on Friday. Thus I was disappointed in proceeding by the New Zealand, which had sailed the day before I was liberated — had to sacrifice my passagemoney, which I could not get returned — had been a great loser by disposing of my property to disadvantage — and am now left here a ruined man. One hundred pounds would not cover my losses ; and all occasioned by the unreasonable and cruel manner in which I have been treated. I shall, however, take the first opportunity of going to Wellington; and there I shall commence legal proceedings, by means of which I doubt not to recover sufficient to repay my pecuniary loss, though not [the further injuries which I have suffered. ■ I am, sir, Your obedient servant, Nelson, Dec. 7. John Smith. P.S. — Since the above was written, I have been favoured with a note from my solicitor, of which the following is a copy : — " Nelson, Dec. 8. " Sir — I have applied to Mr. Cautley, the clerk to the magistrates, for a copy of the deposition taken in your case, when before Mr. Thompson, the police magistrate, who has been desired by Mr. Thompson not to let me have a copy. " Yours, &c. " W. L. Shepherd. " To Mr. Smith."

To the Editor op the Nelson Examiner. Sib — Under the head " Police Intelligence," in your last week's paper, it is stated that T. Berry was charged by a Maori named Ekoha with shooting a pig belonging to him. Now I consider it a duty I owe to T. Berry, who is my brother, to state that I was the individual who was brought before the bench charged with the above offence. Another error also appears in the report, which is, that the witness " Potaia deposed that while lying in the bush he 6aw Berry shoot the pig." He made no such statement. By inserting the above in your paper, you will greatly oblige me, as my brother feels much aggrieved, and as the incorrect report of Potaia's evidence might have the effect of prejudicing my cause and character. Your obedient servant, Frederick Berry. [The error in the name above alluded to appeared in a portion only of our last week's impression. — Ed.]

Value of Example.— The duty of setting a good example is no doubt a most important duty ; but the example is good or bad, neccessary or unneccessary, accordingly as the action may be, which has a chance of being imitated. I once knew a small, but (in outward circumstances at least) respectable congregation, four-fifths of whom professed that they went to church entirely for the example's sake j in other words, to cheat each other and act a common lie ! These rational Christians had not considered that example may increase the good or evil of an action, but can never constitute either. If it was a foolish thing to kneel when they were not inwardly praying, or to sit and listen to.auliscourse of which they believed little and cared nothing, they were setting a foolish example. Persons in their respectable circumstances do not think it necessary to clean shoes, that by their example they may encourage the shoe-black in continuing his occupation : and Christianity doe* not think so meanly of herself as to fear that the poor and afflicted will be- a whit the less pious, though they should see reason to believe that those, who possessed the good things of the present life, were determined to leave all -the blessings of the future for their more humble inferiors. If b this I have spoken with bitterness, let it be recollected that my mibjtfct is hypocrisy .—Coleridge.