IS IT FAIR?

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume II, Issue 130, 3 February 1874, Page 2

IS IT FAIR?

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—Under this exciting heading there appears in that “ miserable wet blanket ” the Ilerald an appeal to the manly sense of Fair Play so happily part of an Englishman’s character; but unfortunately the writer is appealing to the sympathies of a class of people who have suffered too much and too long from the depredations complained of by your Ormond Correspondent that they are themselves much in need of the sympathetic article; they have none on hand for others ; their stock is entirely used up in their own behalf.

My own opinion, as against Mr. Saunders’ is just this, that, so far from prejudicing, or prejudging his case, and without personally referring to him, nil persons proved to being chiefs in, or uccesories to, these deeds of robbing the hard working farmer of his honest toil, ought to be summarily lynched, and I for one should not hesitate one moment to so serve the first petty villain who tries to rob me. They are practically out of the pale of the law; they are the worst class of scoundrels on the face of the earth, and unfortunately, it appears that there are too many of them in this district. I should like to know what would become of such fellows if they tried their nefarious practices on a diggings. They would have a precious short time to invent a prayer appropriate to the occasion, before they would have to leave this world.

Fair play indeed! What next ? and after that, what next ? Who says Mr. Saunders will not have fair play ? The question of Mr. Saunders’ guilt or innocence is not in my hands, but I ask is it fair play to add to the already crushing burdens the farmer has to bear, the additional item of plunder ? Why Vogel’s taxes are a pretty good load of plunder, without any local additions.

I hope to hear no more about this rascally business of stealing mens’ goods, but if fair play is wanted, let it be secured to the inindustrious and honest, and a protection strong and fast will then be afforded them, greater in its effects.than all the laws in the statute books. Let public opinion once take up its stand in the direction of Fair Play, and we should soon find a great many converts to the good old saying, that “ Honesty is the best policy,” who are, as matters stand now, dubious about the truth of that proverb.—l am &c., Ormond Correspondent.

SiR —Your friend the Herald has taken a deal of trouble to express a few thoughts in a number of words anent the Ball; and I think that although it may require “the pen of a Twain” to do ladies’ toilets justice, it only requires the pen of a “Carlile” to write himself an a— no, a Juvenile. He says the liquor was “ unexceptionable, and to the lees juvenile portion of the assemblage, it was altogether, perhaps, the most enjoyable part of the evening’s entertainment.” O, then, I beg his pardon, he war’nt one of the Juveniles ; but its a social slander on the ladies, who don’t happen to be so verdantly juvenile as he is, to say that the “ unexceptionable liquor ” was, to them altogether, the “ most enjoyable part of the entertainment.” If the ladies take my advice, they will make a “ wall flower,” of this gentleman at the next Ball.— I am &c., Chivalric.