CORRESPONDENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2282, 29 August 1908, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

[Correspondence on public matters is welcomed at all times, but it must be distinctly understood that this iournal is.in no way associated with the opinions of its correspondents.] “LAMBING DOWN” CASE. [To the Editor.] Sir, —“Britisher” lias already ably referred to the supposed case of “Limbing down,” and very properly points out that an ex parte statement is not to bo accepted .as gospel. Mr. Francis Stafford in your issue of yesterday, however, takes advantage of the .impeachment, -and rushing into print writes in hysterical terms as to an incident of by-gone years, and attempts to draw a lesson therefrom. Ho states that a head shepherd -at a largo outlying_station started away with about £75 in his pocket, changed his cheque upcountry, returned to the station, and hanged himself. Mr. Stafford is evidently a very bigoted adherent of tho No-Liccnes party, and consequently in telling his story to prove his argument I .am not surprised that he lias not only draw on his imagination, but omits to mention certain details which would rob liis story of its embellishments. I have taken the. trouble to look up the- report of the inquest' on the body of the unfortunate man in question, and I find:

(1) That the suicide took placo as far back as February, 1890, when licensed houses wero not under the same restrictions and supervision as now exist.

(2) That the man discharged himself from his employment, and was not leaving only for a visit elsewhere. (3) That liis cheque for wages was for £-10, not £75,

(4) That when ho returned after an interval of three weeks (not a few days, .as Mr. Stafford says) it was to another station, and not to his old employer. (5) That he had always been eccentric.

(6) That in the previous December he had attempted suicide. Afr. Stafford must be well aware that in any ca6c No-License does not prevent a nnn with a craving for drink obtaining it; indeed, under NoLicense such a man drinks all tho more because secret tippling is admittedly the worst form of the disease. Then again, Mr. Stafford must admit that many abstainers have committed suicide, and many have also been eon viced of crime; whilst our lunatic asylums contain many patients suffering from insanity certainly not produced by drink; religious insanity for instance.—l am. etc., "TEMPERATE IN ALL THINGS.”. AIR. KOHERE’S SERAION. (To. tho Editor.) Sir,—l notice that a quotation anpears in this morning’s issue from the Maori journal giving .a summary of a sermon delivered by the Rev. Rohe re to an European congregation at AA'ellington recently. It is therein stated that ho said that Christ “belongs to a colored race.” I would just like to ask Air. Ivohore how he arrives at this conclusion? I confess I did not- know before that a mail’s beiiijj a Jew and not an Englishman made him a “colored” man. Apparently, however, that is the opinion of Air. Kohoro.—l am. etc., “PAKEHA.”