ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1177, 24 January 1880, Page 2

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

Irish famine relief fund. TO THE EDITOR OP THE OAMARU MAH. Sir,—The editor of the North Otago Times and his " familiar North Britain " seem determined to thwart the efforts of the Committee, for I perceivo another cold water application in his columns this morning, backed up by a letter from his handy " familiar." People who cannot agree with their. Utopian charity scheme are referred to as " hysterical fools " and " shallow pates. ,r I have yet to learn that it is either gentlemanly or judicious to use abusive language towards those who may express opinions contrary to our own. Argument may be listened to with, at least, patience, although it may fail to convince ; but the ill-bred, illiterate, and ill-tempered man, when that which he fondly considers argument fails, takes refuge in abuse. He plays the role of the . cuttlefish to perfection, and liis opponents of _ a different stamp leave him to wallow in his filth. Notwithstanding a mild expression of approval near the end of the leader, I consider the action of the North Otago Times amounts to indecent hostility to the charitable movement so ably and so kindly advocated and encouraged in your columns, and up to the present soheartily responded to by all classes of the cammunity.—l am, &c. One jdf the Committee. Oamaru, January 23. ■ «. MAEREWHENUA SHINGLE RESERVES. (to the editor OF THE OAMARU MAIL.)' Sir, —A week or two since I had occasion to travel up the Maerewhenua River from Duntroon, and was vastly astonished to observe that the croppers who have taken land from Mr. M'Master have ploughed up the shingle reserve along the river bank wherever it is available. Whether this is done from greed or ignorance I think the police, or Waste Land Board, or whosever duty it may be to conserve and protect the public reserves should see to it at once ere the matter becomes more complicated by cropping and fencing. It is, if done with Mr. M'Master's knowledge, a most unwarrantable and. reprehensible instance of interfering with the public estate, and I hope he will see the wisdom of at once withdrawing from his iliegal position. He has, as was shown some time since by your Livingstone correspondent no right whatever to the river frontage in any part of his property at Maerewhenua. I am, &c., An Observer.