CORRESPONDENCE.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 289, 14 July 1875, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

Out columns art open for free discussion; hut ws do not hold ourselves responsible for ths opinions of our Correspondents.

A VINDICATION. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —I have seen with regret, but not with •urprise, some letters in your paper concerning the debt oil the Catholic church property at Gisborne, and containing an unjustifiable charge of a misappropriation of funds. I would have replied sooner, but it was lately that my atten t ion was accidently called to these letters. The following facts will, I am sure, refute false accusations, and will prove that I, in this case, have been most aggrieved.

In the first place it was with the approbation of the committee that I directed the erection of a presbytery, and at our meetings I furnished them with an account of the proceedings. I have applied to the expenses of the same, the sums collected by me. I have not only not appropriated these donations, but I have occasionally given from my own slender resources to the payment of the building. Again, during my stay at Gisborne I derived an inadequate support as any impartial observer will concur. I had a right to aid from the diocesan funds, as the Bishop prior to his departure for Europe specially directed to be given, and which aid is derivable by our clergymen in new settlements. After several applications which were unwarrantably refused, I returned to Auckland to assert my just claims and especially to procure a liquidation of these debts; and although these claims toere acknowledged t my efforts have been in vain, and my liabilities still unnoticed. I must say, with grateful remembrance, that I have received much kindness and aid from several members of my congregation at Gisborpe ; but l am also obliged to state that the majority of those confided to my care manifested indifference, and a disregard of their spiritual duties. This latter class have been most clamorous for the services of a priest during his absence. It has been always my endeavour to afford satisfaction and to maintain my character as an honest man, and fljS my efforts have been in vain te procure from my superior a settlement of these claims upon the Catholic church property, and as I possess no other means of coming to a satisfactory conclusion of the same, I have only to request respectfully that anyone who wishes to recover his dues will take legal proceedings, either at their option against me, or against the responsible authori - ties, otherwise, I will not consider myself further accountable for these debts. —I am, &c., James B. Simpson. Auckland, July Btlx, 1875.

Sir, —Some time back, a match, arranged between Mr Isaacs’ “ Daybreak ” and ‘ Maori Weed ” (when the former won) was the subject of inquiry before the Auckland Racing Committee, who disqualified Kelly and Huntley for ever and passed a resolution requesting Mr Isaacs to give an explanation of his part of the transaction (as it very much required one) or resign his membership of the Racing Club. This explanation has, I believe, never been given never been published as the accusations and insinuations were. Now does it not seem st range that the committee made such a difference between Kelly, Huntley and Isaacs ? If Isaacs was implicated', he too, should I think, have been disqualified for ever without the option of resigning from the club only, as that would not prevent his running horses or appearing on the course.

Mr Isaacs on the one hand, or the Race Club on the other, never ought to let the matter rest there. Isaacs has never explained (some say he can’t). If he had nothing to do with the swindle, what a gross shame to him that an imputation of so serious a nature should be left sticking to him. If he is guilty, what a disgrace to the Auckland Race Club that they should allow him to go unpunished, and so not disqualify him. Some of the committed say they believe he has no answer, that ho is implicated ; but that he is young (surely not green)— has a father here who supports races—-and, perhaps, is not so bad as others they can’t reach. So the matter lies. Mr Isaacs, whether innocent or guilty, has the mark of anything hut innocence left on him by the reports in the papers. —Yours, &c., VINDEX. Auckland, July 7.

Sir, —Allow me through the medium of your journal to complain of the extremely incompatible assertions of “ Matter of Fact ” in your issue of Saturday last. He “ Matter of Fact,” avers that Captain Gudgeon’s complaint against John Villers was insufficient to do any good, and still sufficient to do harm, if so, surely his “ Matter of Facts’s” conduct is reprehensible in endeavoring to involve another with the view of shielding the one. If “ Matter of Fact ” is prepared to establish his charge against the Hotel near the saddle and bridle manufactory, surely it were in better taste for him to have mentioned it at Head Quarters, or not at all ; at any rate, if absolutely under the eyes of the Armed Constabulary, the general routine of the Hotel in question is tolerated, I think the host thereof can safely treat “ Matter of Fact’s” rhodomontade with contempt.—l am, &e., Faib Play. Ormond, July 10th, 1875. Sib, —In perusing your valuable and independent paper of the 30th June last, to my unqualified surprise, I read at the annual Licensing Meeting, Mr. John Villers of the Chandos Hotel met with a rebuke. Now, Sir, I am a ratepayer and resident in the immediate vicinity of the Chandos Hotel, and have been such since the hotel was licensed ; and I emphatically assert that in my opinion the house is conducted in a manner second to none in Poverty Bay, lam quite sure that almost (if not quite) without exception all the inhabitants of Ormond will bear me out in what I write to you. How or in what way Mr. Villers can have incurred the displeasure of Captain Gudgeon is best known to himself, but I must say, that I can only attribute this rebuke to some private feud, and, u such, I can but think that his power is abused.—l am, &c., Nu.vquam Dorm io.