A REPLY.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 231, 21 March 1866, Page 3

A REPLY.

(to the editoe oe the southland times.) Sib, — If there is one thing more distressing than another to an ingenions mind and heart bursting with affection for one's fellow creatures, it is to be misunderstood and misrepresented by the friend of " one's bussum," the companion of one's youth. Judge then, sir, what were my feelings on reading in a local print, " Jenkins" letter, in which he stigmatises me as a " Jem Bags." That Jenkins, my Jenkins, should call me a Jem Bags, should have so misunderstood my intentions in writing my former letter as to bebeve for one moment that I was advocating the cause of that creature, Pearson. Why, sir, I go further than even Jenkins; I say, sir, that objectionable party, Pearson, should be crucified at the corner of Dee and Tay-streets, as a terror to evil-doers, and a pra-ise and pro-tection to them that do evil. Has not Pearson bad the presumption to chaff the great Minges in the Halls of the Parliament of the people ? Hath he not held up to ridicule " Southland's Natural Chief? And why, sir, I should like to know ? Simply because he has ruined us. Well, sir, had not the great Mingies a perfect right to do so ? Did he not, from his Highland Home, look with eagle-eye, over the sunny plains of Southland, prior to Separation, calculating the day when he would be able to lay them waste, and hath he not done so ? Is he not our Natural Chief? Are we not bis bondsmen, banded over to him body and soul by the great spirit, Toadyism ? And is it to be endured, that Pearson should presume, "To beard the Lion in his den, The Minges in his Hails." Sir, — nev-a-re. Oh Jenkins ! friend of my youth ! solace of my hours of melancholy ! boon companion of my convivial ones ; shall a Pearson part us ? Nev-a-re; living, I will always grasp thy hand with affection ; dead, I will revere thy memory. Sir — I am pe-roud to say, that there are not many Jenkinses in this world. To him may be applied with strict truth, the words of Erin's greatest bard. " You may break, you may shatter the vase if you will, The reek of the Pot-House will stick to him still." Jenkins had-joo, (adieu), O, river, (au revoir) , my friend. An Admieee op the Jenkins Lot. Invercargill, 29th March.