ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 267, 28 October 1862, Page 5

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

STREET PREACHING. {To the Editor of the Daily Times.)

Sir, —As the interruption of tha open air service on Sabbath, 12th inst., by the police, was a matter in which many persons took an iuteivsfc, and as no explanation has yet been given the public respecting my own conduct, tbe interference ofthe police, or the view taken by the Government, I beg to hand yon the enclosed letter, wirh permission of the Provincial Executive to publish. I am, Sir, kc, f ISAAC HARDING, Wesleyan Minister. Elm Row, Dunedin, 27th October, 1862.

"Rev. Mr Harding-to. the Provincial Secretary. "Sir,-I have the honor to inform you that on Sabbath last, as I was reading and expounding a chapter of Holy Scripture to some straugets who loitered on the pavement by the Post-Office in this town, I was -interrupted by tbe police informing me that I was acting in violation of the law, and that although. I q estioned whether the policeman was acting under authority, he informed me that he was the Inspector of Police in Dunedin, and that it was his duty to interfere. A9 I would not knowingly proceed in opposition to lawful authority, and oner to a multitude of people the example of a minister of the Gospel treating the *' uowers that be" with disrespect, I at once desisted, and retired from the ground to my home, pondering what could be the cause of such a a dishonour cast upon me in Otago, as had never been offered either in seventeen years ministry in various parts or'England, or in the snbseqtient years in these colonies, both iu Australia and New Zealand j. in all which I have been accustomed to preach occasionally in the streets and squares, market places, and other places of public resort , "At this juncture, I think you will allow that'in <">tago there is an unusual call tor noing into the * highways/ seei-g that thousands of strangers are coming to this province, for whom there is no room in the places of public worship; and when numbers wert already gathered together on the Lord's day, discussing all kinds 01. secular matters, I am still at a loss to divine what offence I can have committed against law or order Iby reading to them.out of the word of God, or, by i expounding aud inviting tbem to join in the worship I of God. •'■'•'"•■

"I hope you will excuse me, when linforra you that I do not feel easy in the position iu which I am left by your police, and that I shall be glad to be informed whether a M inister recognised by Colonial Government, as a duly authorised Minister in New Zealand, standing up to preach in this town, on the Sabbath Day, to a quiet and orderly people, is to be abruptly put down as a public nuisance, in the Province of i Otago? < -v i " Apologizing for the length of this letter, "lam Sir, yours respectfully, ■ . , *' Isaac Ha»mno, - " Minister of the Wesleyan Citurch in Dunedin. Elm How, Uth Jctober, 1882. " Thomas Dick, Esq., ' - * •<. , " Provincial Secretary,". ».

Provincial Secretary to.. the Ketv Mr. Harding _fcir,—l havethe honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the I4th instant, bringing under notice that you had been interrupted by the police while eagaged in ' expo undiug scrip tui e to some straugcrs who loitered about tin,- Post-office on Sab bath last/

' In reply I beg to acquaint you that the Government have seriously considered your representations, and regret that a misunderstanding should have taken plaje on the occasion re erred to ; but as the congregating of people m such places ds the street near the Fost-office is objectionable for any purpose, hot only as obstructing the thoroughfare, hut as affording'' facilities to persons, who, to obtain their ends, would not scruple to create riot and disturbance 5 the Government, whilst highly approving of the object aimed at, would recommend that you should select places where the thoroughfares would not be so much interfered with, and where the same facilities for the: commission of crime would not be presented. " I have the honor to be, Sir, " Your most obedient servant, "THOMAS DICK, •-„ . ~0 ~" Provincial Secretary. Provincial Secretary's Office, Dunedin, fdvd October, 1862. "The Itev. Isaac Harding, Elm Row. "Dunedin." '

THE CASH OF JAMES SMITH. {To the Editor ofthe Otago Daily Times.) Sir,—l am very $y!ad to see that you have taken up thecise.of James Smith (who was convicted of hav mg obtained money on false pretences), in such a sensible and well-written article, as appeals in.your paper of this morning, and I hope the subject will not be allowed to drop without a little more agitation 13 there no means, Mr. Editor, of having the case tried over agaiu \ Surely the conviction 13 illegal, i As fas as I cau see in the evidence, it is not possible he could have heen found guilty. I never heard of a case before ofthe Judge (on such slight evidence as was brought forward i« this case) telling the jury th. y could do nought but find the prisoner guilty. Ti?a"i is only done when every th n<? is against fcne prisoner —wnen there can be no doubt on an> man's mind as to his guilt. In this case he would have been acquitted by the jury, if it had not been for Mr. Justice Gresson. In reading the account of the trial in your paper, Mr Editor, 1 was struck by a case exactly j similar to the one for which James Smith was tried, ! which occurred in Victoria. An old friend of mine, living on Ballarat. carne to Melbourne to see me, and in payment of some goods I had sold him, be filled up a Melbourne cheque form. I asked him if he had funds in the Melbourne bank; he told me No, but he had in the Ballarat branch. I told him he must strike out Melbourne, and insert Ballarat. Well, Sir, he imagined thathe could get the money from aany branch ofthe same bank or firm, in any part of the colony : so you see, Mr. Editor, if I had not taken notice of it at first, my old friend, through ignorance ol the subject, narrowly escaped nine months' imprisonment, with hard labor. Hoping J have not taken up too much of your valuable space, and that you will not let the matter drop, I remain, Sir, Yours truly. ,- ™, JUSTICE. Dunedin, 27th October, 1862,