Original Correspondence.

New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 537, 7 June 1851, Page 3

Original Correspondence.

To the Eddor of the New Zealander. | Sir,— On the 23rd May a paragraph appeared in the i Southern Crost, which might prove most prejudicial to me, and you would be rendering me a great favor by inserting the following. The day on which H. M. Ships Havannah and Fly entered the harbour, I had to be in Auckland at the christening of my children, and having to leave Victoria Mount early in the day, the signal was merely hoisted to indicate the ships in sight ; had I been at the station, the signal would have been shewn sooner that two of H.M. ships were coming in. I beg to state also that I do not consider the working of the signal station as a mere " game of flags," as the editor styles it, but a duty which I always endeavour to fulfil to the satisfaction of the public, nor am I a drone as the same individual would try to prove, having oilier government duties to perform, in addition to the signal station ; besides which I have to fetch wood and water for the use of my family from a distance of nearly half a mile. In reference to the three vessels that came in on Sunday, the 1 8th May, the Editor states, no one could tell from whence they came— may I ask how is it possible for me to tell, when no pilot was taken on board, nor even a signal hoisted ? Mistakes are often made by vessels coming in, shewing wrong signals, but still I am bound to answer the sdme at the station. On a former occasion the editor of the Southren Cross ridiculed me in a most shameful manner, and complained of my neglect of duty, but contradicted all he said in the following published paper, finding himself in fault instead of me ; it would have been as well had he this time have ascertained whether I deserved his censure, before publishing what he has. Apologizing for the length of my letter, and for trespassing on your valuable time, I am, Sir, Your most obedient servant, Thomas Duoor. Signal Station, Victoria Mount, June 2nd, 1851.