Correspondence.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3609, 21 July 1880, Page 2

Correspondence.

These coliur.:w are open to all correspondence of in>blic interest, but we Oo not lioid ourselvceresnonsJb'efor ilie opinions of writers. Correspondence must in all cases be r.uUieu^c*ted by U>e real-name and address of the writer—not necessarily (or publication, but as a guarantee o( good faith. ,

(To the Editor of the Evening Stab.)

Sib, —You state in to-night's issue that "Mr Mcllhone made an excellent defence" at the pttblie meeting held last night. Well, maybe so, still as there are two sides to all questions, suppose we examine his defence seriatim, and see what it is made of, for to me it appears very much like the drawing of a red herring across the scent to humbug the meeting. Mr Mollhone begins by introducing his old story re Miners' nights, and states "he had been oh the field 12 years, and if Kenrick was right with regard to the question- of discretionary power, all previous Wardens must have been wrong." Now. here we have a specimen of clap-trap bunkum to begin with, specimens of which show pretty thick throughout his speech. In the first place, as Mac truly remarks, the natives supplied th 6 salary (for we won't speak of the £100 a year Government money lately received for the Ohinemuri goldfield). Well then, the natives supplying the blunt, so long as they are satisfied with the work done it becomes a matter of no interest to any 8.M., whether " previous " or not, but when the services which the natives were entitled to receive become so neglected as to~be self-evident, what wonder if the natives grumble? What wonder if the natives and " certain Europeans " come to think that Mac is making political capital out of the (in)famous discretionary power? Mind; I don't say they do, but what wonder is it if they should, or that having come to that conclusion that they sheuld find the means to petition that they.may be allowed to sack their own servant, who re receiving wages from them. Thus far you will perceive that Mr Kenrick is not mixed up with the case in any way, but eventually the Native Minister receives a petition signed by nearly every interested native on the goldfield, through their agent, and refers the petition back to the Warden on the Thames desiring him to investigate the genuineness of the signatures and grounds for complaint. The question of discretionary power thereupon again crops up, upon which Mr Kenrick stated that such power should be vested in the Court alone. He never recommended the abolishment of discretionary power, but

objected to it being placed in the hands of a private individual. Of coarse he being a stranger in the district could not be supposed to know that Mr Hugh Mcllhone was never known to grind his own axe in his life, or even to hare one to grind at all, nor even yet the more selfevident fact that he was both virtue and honesty impersonified. So, not knowing this, which anyone on the Thames would have told him, he merely did what any other sensible man would have done viz., desired that those in distressed circum-' stances should make such facts known to the Court, which bad both power to bind and to loose. The question at issue had never been previously raised before any warden. No; Mcllhone merely " winked;" and whether the case ' was a fit one for " discretion" or not was known only by Mcllhone. Now to shew the wisdom .of the Warden's ruling, within a few days of the abolishment of Mcllhone's irresponsible power, the following occurred —(a fact big with significance): Between 200 and 300 Miners' Bights were suddenly taken out, the office was. rushed, and yet I we have not heard of any cases of starvation in consequence, nor yet of any rise in the price of bran, to manufacture the imaginary bran loaf. Presumably because the holders of these rights were perfectly able to take them out. Sir, I would nob be supposed for-one moment to pretend to ignore the fact that there is great distress on the Thames, and that in: some oajii I quite believe miners are unable tiftake out their rights, bat I say that in such casei their warden is the proper man to appeal to, a gentleman tans peur et tan* reprorihe and utterly beyond the reach of suspicion—and not Mr Mcllhone. Now with regard to the 900 who are said to have signed Mr Mcllhone's petition, if the 300 miners working without rights Bigned and the remaining 600 signatures were obtained in a similar manner to the famous "98"—small wonder that he got them. Now we come to where he abuses Mr Kearick for sending his report .to Wellington without waiting for Mr Mclthone's depositions. Now, I am informed on the very best authority that Mr Kenriek told Mr Mcllhone to send in his stataments in writing by the Saturday .following. Saturday came but no depositions; Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday came and passed during which time Mr Kenriek waited, and .finally sent his report to Wellington without Mr MellhjmVs defence, and who was to blame bit Mr Mcllone himtelf, if it was sot done, as may be shrewdly inferred, with deliberate intention; of course he would know that his defence would' reach Wellington sooner or later, but the little circumstance might be twisted so as to imply bias. Mr Mcllhone, states that his bread and butter has been taken away by eruelMr JCenrick. Now it would be a pity you know for our precious Mcllhone to, come to grief for want of bread and butter; we could not efford you know, to lose his valiable services; you knowas well as I that he could never be replaced^ to though it may smack of interference and make ourselves liable to be' told to mind' our own business, don't you think we might suggest in a friendly manner the desirability of his turning his attention agein to the education of youths s)nd inculcating Christian doctrine by example as . well. as precept. Mr MclJthone has sorely not forgotten the time when he conducted a schobl at the North Shore so successfully, and with such honor to himself and advantage to the, pupils, several of whom are how at' the Tnames, who would I am sure be happy to givetheir experiences to any parent desirous'of obtaining information.—lam/&e., - ' ; . „ ANTi-Huitßua. Thames, July 17,1880,-[Adyi.];- '