THE NOTORIOUS CAPT. HAYES AGAIN.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 16, Issue 851, 26 October 1870, Page 2

THE NOTORIOUS CAPT. HAYES AGAIN.

fsOUTHEBN CROSS.] Captain Hayes is a name which has become notorious throughout the colonies. It will be remembered that a certain Captain Hayes lay off this harbour in a vessel seme years ago, though he did not venture to enter it. His exploits have been so many and various that no one who is at all acquainted with his history would be surprised at hearing of his again distinguishing himself, were it not for the fact that he had been reported dead The captain, however, with that versatility for which he is so remarkable, is no sooner reported dead than he reappears in another quarter, as though resenting such an assertion, and determined by distinguishing himself in some new way to give his detractors the lie. His last resurrection is said to have occurred at some obscure island in the South Pacific, where, screened from the observation of the inquisitive, he could go through the mysterious process of coming to life for a second or third time without any danger of so valuable a secret being discovered, He would be a very bold man who would vouch for the smallest particle of the many extraordinary stories that we are told of " Bully Hayes," who in his übiquity, and his habit of dying and coming to life on the slightest provocation, outvies Te Kooti himself. The last story of Captaiu Hayes comes from Fiji, and we merely give it for what it is worth. It is said that he kidnapped a number of natives from one of the islands, and took them in a schooner to Fiji, where he expected he would be able to dispose of the cargo at a good figure without being subjected to the indignity of having to answer awkward questions. The natives, however, contrived to forward a complaint to the American Consul, who seized the vessel, admitting Captain Hayes to parole pending enquiry. But a new complication now arose. A firm with whom Hayes, in bygone times, had contracted some liability, took the opportunity to step in and demand payment of their little bill. To appease these insatiable creditors, Hayes was compelled to baud over his chro»oi»eters as security. Days passed on, ami at length an American barque anchored off the place. Thereupon went he to the creditors, and in that genial off-hand manner for which he is so distinguished, requested that. he might be allowed to take the chronometers on board the barque in order to regulate, and, if possible, sell them. In a moment of weakness the too confiding creditors consented, and our information states that they have been ever since anxiously looking for the return of Hayes or the chronometers. Scarcely had he reached the vessel than she spread her sails and left the creditors lamenting. It whs not long, however, before he was heard of in a new quarter. It was found that he had visited the plantation of the very firm whom he had relieved of the custody of his chrouometers; and, by representing himself as authorised by that firm, had induced the manager of the plantation to ship some «£2,000 worth of cotton stored there. The firm then chartered a schooner, and manned her, with the object ot going in chase of the captain; but, after a cruise of three weeks, gave up the search, and proceeded to an island where there was another plantation belonging to the firm, there to await the arrival of Hayes, and those who had some knowledge of his habits expressed their belief that he would have a weakness for going away with a full ship. But '* weeks flew on and he did not appear," and a large amount of labour bestowed upon the preparation of a cave designed foe his temporary reception, until more suitable accommodation couhl be provided, was entirely thrown away, to the intense disgust of everybody concerned ; except, no doubt, the captain himself, No tidings have siuce been received of Mm, and it is supposed that he has gone to China. Of course any attempt to indicate his , true destination is mere guesswork, but until we next hear of him we may console ourselves in the idea that he has really gone to China. We hope, however, that we shall soon hear of him again ; it would be a great pity to lose so valuable a member of society altogether.