ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE

Southland Times, Issue 729, 27 September 1867, Page 2

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE

WE DO NOT IDENTIFY OURSELVES IN ANYWAY WITH THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED BY OUJi CORRESPONDENTS.

(TO THE .EDITOR OP THE SOUTITIjiND TIME 3.)

Sik, —You published a letter recently in which my name has been brought before the 'public, as having in my possession the manuscript of a letter signed " Resident " that appeared in the " News" of the 12th inst. In a paragraph in the "News" of the 24th inst. it is stated that the manuscript was stolen either by some person entering their office or by one of the boys bribed to do so. .'About ten days ago a piece of paper was picked up in the street, and shown to me. I immediately recognised it as a portion of one of the many insulting personal letters that of late have appeared in the " News," and I must confess that I was wicked enough to rejoice at having the means of exposing, at least one of the scribblers, who, not having the courage to sign his name, takes advantage of the " News " to make scurrilous personal attacks upon private individuals anonymously. Mr Joyce, in relating what passed between us in to-day's issue, stated only part of the conversation. He asked me if I had in my possession a portion of a letter that appeared in his paper. I ;said I had a piece of paper similar to ; what he described ; he asked me to give it to him. I replied that I must consider about : it as I was not sure it belonged to him ; he said he could prove it b 7 producing the remaining portion of the letter with the signature ; he said that he did not care so much about, the writer as the injury it would do c\s business through having the matter exposed, and if I did not give it up, he would take proceedings to recover it. I asked him if I was to cousider his observation as a threat ; he paid no, but that the paper was stolen put: of the office, and that he would consider whether it was worth hia while to take proceedings to recover it, I then told him it was found near T'odd'a Auction J&oom., but as lie said it was stolen, I ; mußs iecto giving i% tQ him*

In conclusion, I must say, that Mr Joyce takes a very clumsy method of excusing himself of the gross carelessness of losing a portion of a correspondent's letter ; it only makes the matter worse by saying it was stolen; as if the greatest thief in the world would steal such a filthy trash ; better by far if Mr Joyce would acknowledge at once that he lost the paper than accuse the office boys of stealing, all of whom I have not the slightest doubt, are quite as honest as he is himself. — -Yours, &c, Alexander Sayebs. Invercargill, 24th- 5ept.,. 1867.

(TO THB EDITOB OP. THE SOUTHLAND TIMES.) Sib, — The recent alteration in the Time Table of the Bluff Eailway will be the cause of such serious inconvenience to the public that I am quite certain it is only necessary to call the attention of the Government to the fact to ensure its immediate attention to the subject. The times of leaving the Bluff and Town have evidently been suggested by some overpaid official on the line, who wants to get his work over quickly, and not with any regard to the convenience of the public. The idea of allowing persons desirous of visiting the Bluff but three quarters of an hour to transact any business they may have there, is simply absurd. ; and why the trains cannot leave morning and evening can only be accounted for from the fact I have stated, viz., that the question has been left to some one who has studied his own convenience, to the exclusion of that of the public. Clifton.