A BAND OF HOPE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 34, 31 May 1876, Page 2

A BAND OF HOPE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE EVENING MAIL. Sir, —Being of an inquisitive turn of mind, I am instinctively drawn towards the mysterious, and knotty problems have always possessed a peculiar charm, in the working out of which I have hitherto taken some pride, and with a considerable measure of success. Your correspondent "T. Thompson," however, has proved too much for me, for, after poring over his unique production, at the cost of two hours' time and much mental strain, I am compelled to throw up the sponge and ask: " What is he driving at ?" Let me premise, however, that this great desideratum in the eyes of "T. T." is the rock upon which I am wrecked, inasmuch as his elegant diction and flowing composition has completely upset my preconceived notions on the subject. But a light breaks in upon me ! Merciful heavens, are we in the enlightened ftineteenth century, or do we live in a civilised couhtry, and still one be found to advocate a reversion to the Herodical practice for the reduction- of the juvenile population, which ushered in the Christian era '! Cloak it, as the writer has evidently striven to do, under ambiguity of expression, murder stares from every letter of the following lines: 'Tor the last three years we have not had a Band of Hope in Oamaru, and I should think it was high time we had, for I notice a large number of children in Oamaru at the present time." Now, Sir, lam the father of four, and I appeal to j 7 ou to use your powerful pen against the institution of any such murderous band in our midst. You can pity a father's agonised feelings who sees his little ones in danger, and inform me what is this mysterious society, and who is Thompson (Thompson with a ' 'p" you will remember) who openly advocates its establishment, Does it resemble an earthquake ? Or falls it like a meteorlite, and what time elapsos between its periodical visits ? Perhaps you, Sir, may remember its last advent and its effects. " Tea T." says : '' I know that when the last one was here it did a great- deal of good one way or another. It would not be a bad thing if those that started the last were to start another, as they know the working of it." Listen to that! The cold-blooded scoundrel must be a peripatetic undertaker, and if all the Oamaruans were of my thinking "T. T." himself would be started pretty quickly. Murder stalks in every line he has written, and yet not content with waging warfare against the innocent living, he needs must disturb the dead in their graves, by murdering poor Lindley Murray to such an extent that were his bones not burdened with two tons of marble, summary vengeance would be wreaked for the outrage. —I am, &c, Magguffin.