MINISTER AND FLOCK

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 176, 30 August 1909, Page 3

MINISTER AND FLOCK

LIFE AT BROKEN RIVER AND OTIRA. ''. THE UNVARNISHED TRUTH. i Christchurch, August 20. According to a special reporter of The Press at Otira, a recent article by the

ißev, Mr. Mules is the most burning topic of conversation in that locality, transcending even the discussion on the tunnel strike. Some time ago, Mr. Mules, who in the Anglican minister in diarge of Broken River and Otira districts, wrote an article for the Canterbury College Review, discussing the various phases of life among his rather heterogenous flock. Extracts from the Article were copied into the papers on the West Coast and in Christchurch, With, the result that the populations oi Broken River and Otira are seething with indignation at the reflections which they consider were cast on them as a whole. On Tuesday night a stone crashed ftrough the window of Mr. Mules's wnare, which is situated near the workers' camp: This outrage, however, is strongly deprecated by the men generally, who are on the most politic and polite behaviour at the present juncture. The union has called on Mr. Mules to publicly apologise for his article, and Ht his request a meeting has been convened for Thursday evening to hear him On his defence. The whole thing has created a very painful impression.

A COURAGEOUS DEFENCE. STRAIGHT TALK TO TUNNEL WORKERS. Christchurch, August 27. The Rev. Mr. Mules' met the men last Bight, made his defence, and scored a signal victory. The meeting was held in ft billiard-room at Otira, and the audience consisted almost exclusively of tunnel workers. The president of the, union, (Mr. John Dick), a practicalBcot, presided. Mr. Mules' remarks Were to tie point, and he maintained lais ground courageously. He said he Wrote the article nine weeks ago, at the request of the editor of the Canterbury College Review, who asked him to give some account of lis day's work and the people with whum he came into touch. He was positively ignorant of the fact that the article was to appear in the public press. (Applause.) The simultaneous publication in Christchurch and West Coast papers was, he believed, due to a reciprocal arrangement between those papers. The first intimation he bad of the publication was last Sunday morning. "I absolutely disclaim any responsibility whatever for the article as it apSiared in this particular way," said Mr. ules, producing the newspaper. (Loud applause.) He asked the audience to imagine the conditions under which he wrote the article, replying to a request from a personal friend to give an account of his' day's work. He had in his mind's eye the audience he was to address through the medium of a semiprivate magazine, wnich had a circulation of about 150, many of the subscribers being his own personal friends. Mr. Mules then read the article from the Review. The recital was listened to with unbroken attention, and was punctuated occasionally with applause and laughter. A hearty round of applause greeted the conclusion. "Now, then," Mr. Muleß continued, with spirit, "what about the tone of that article?" He wanted the sympathy of the men in his work, but on the general tone of his Article he invited the meeting to say whether he was guilty or not guilty. Mr. Mules, who bad had a very sympathetic hearing, resumed* Ms seat amid applause. The discussion was opened by the chairman, who said bluntly that he had felt satisfied all along. This met with a chorus of." Same here!" and applause. Some desultory discussion and criticism of. a few points in the article followed. "You have heard one honest man speak his mind," said the chairman, "and I want you all to do the same. All the questions are coming from one or two." The invitation was taken up by a few of the men, who wildly challenged the accuracy of some of the statements in the article. / Mr. Mules said there was hardly a

man present who did not know that jeverytlhing stafpd dn Ms article was s true, or who could not truthfully write about things which were "hotter" than anything he had touched on. The meeting as a whole was decidedly on Mr. Mules' side, and this was ahown when a; motion was put "That Mr. Mules' explanation be accepted by the meeting, and that he be exonerated from nil responsibility for the article as it appeared in the newspapers." This was .Tried unanimously, amid applause.