LARRIKINISM AT THE MASONIC HALL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 99, 15 August 1876, Page 2

LARRIKINISM AT THE MASONIC HALL.

TO THE EL IT OR OF TILE EVENING MAIL. Sir, —Your issue of the 14th inst. contains a letter, bearing the signature of "Magguffin," and criticising the conduct of certain members of the Oamaru Dramatic Club at a performance in the Masonic Hall on Saturday night last. In the same paper a local appeared, speaking in no measured language of the alleged disgraceful conduct of some of the occupants of the front seats. The fact of the letter and local appearing in the same issue, has led people to believe that both are applied to the aforesaid certain members of the Oamaru Dramatic Club. Therefore, on behalf of the members of the Club present at that entertainment, I, as one of them, and with the concurrence of the remainder, most distinctly deny, in every respect, the truth of the statements contained in the letter and paragraph above referred to. The productions in question have been read by a few of the friends of those present, and are calculated to do them injury in many ways, and to allow such gross untruths to go uncontradicted would do them no good. It would hardly be a source of gratification to "the citizens if the newspapers were to get into the habit of publishing such tissues of falsehoods upon the unsupported testimony of any anonymous writer. It is well known to be the custom of journalists to publish lettex-s, and declare that they wish it to be distinctly understood that they are not responsible for the opinions expressed by correspondents, thereby not vouching for the accuracy of any statements contained in their correspondence column, but when a paragraph appears, in the construction of which, such economy, when dealing with the truth is exhibited, one wonders. It seems only a fair thing to expect, that any editor of experience, would or should endeavour, to ascertain the correctness of allegations furnished him, before inserting such a list of charges against any individual or individuals, as has been done in this instance. As your correspondent seeks the shelter of a nom de plume, I will likewise write anonymously ; but as evidence that all the members of the Oamaru Dramatic Club, present at the entertainment referred to, agree with the contents of this letter, I forward their signatures,—l am, &c., One of the Slandered. Oamaru, August loth, 1876. [Our correspondent is evidently under the impression that the local he complains of in last night's issue was written by the same person as the letter signed " Magguffin." We will disabuse his mind at once by stating most positively that it was not. There is one singular fact we should like to point out in connection with our correspondent's letter and the one signed "D. Everett." By a most extraordinary coincidence, the letter of our correspondent is written oil the same sized- paper, the tame color, the identical shade of ink, and, more extraordinary still, the vrriting is precisely the same in every -particular. The formation of every individual letter is alike, and therefore, under these circum,vt < .nce3 we have no other alternate

but to state, and that most positively, that the letter signed "One of the Slandered" and the one signed "D. Everett" were written by the same person, and he the owner of the nom da plimie. Of course there could not be collusion in the matter, "One of the Slandered" would scarcely lend himself to such a mean paltry action as to induce Mr. Everett to allow him to pen a letter denying the rowdyism, in order to back up our correspondent's case. Bat nevertheless it is very singular that both the letters should be in the same handwriting, and that the paper should bear the same lociter mark. We have received several letters complaining of the disturbance at the Hall on Saturday evening, but as we have no wish to wound the feelings of those who caused the dis. turbance, we refrain from publishing them - ED. E. M.\ TO THE EDITOR OF THE EVEN IN(1 MAIL, Sir, —I regretted to see, in your last even, ing's issue, a letter signed "Magguffia" charging a portion of the Saturday night'j audience with larrikinism and rowdineai and a local referring to ome disgraceful cosduct in the front seats. I must deny thai any disturbance was created in the house on Saturday night, with the exception of that made by an inebriate in the gallery, whom I at once caused to be removed. It has been remarked that the performances of my troupe here have been attended by most orderly audiences. —I am, &c., D. Everett, Proprietor Hibernicon. Oamaru, August 15, 1876. [We equally regret with our correspondent that there should have been any rowdinesj at the Masonic Hall on Saturday nightmore particularly as, with this exception,' Mr. Everett's has been one of the most orderly-conducted entertainments that hai ever visited Oamaru. Our assertion, how. ever, as to the larrikinism was not unsup. ported, as it was borne out by a correspondent's letter to our morning contemporary —ED. E.M.I TO THE EDITOR OP THE EVENING MAIL. Sir, —Supposing the statements in youi correspondent's letter of the. 14th instant to be correct, I am at a loss to know what injury he can have received from the Dramatic Club as to try to upset their efforts by so mean a revenge as a slur on their character as a Club, because some of its members, as he states, were guilty of larrikinism. Why did he not attack them individually ? The members of the Dramatic Club, allow me to state, for "MagguflinV information, are not ii the habit of offering their questional patronage to any one under the name of the Dramatic Club. " Magguffin's " name atthf head of the bills might (?) draw a crowded house.—l am, &c.,

A Member of the Club, Oamaru, August 15.