THE CRUISE OF THE AWARUA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1751, 16 June 1888, Page 4

THE CRUISE OF THE AWARUA.

..-.,-,,. iNYEECAEGILL.June 12. Greaf sensation was .caused by!the publication of letjters'from Mf Joseph Hatch, late member for the town, jand 'well known in connection with i the seal fisheries,- to L. F.Dre'w/ master of thp sehqoner Awarua, which rescued the Uerry Castle survivors from S the Auckland' Isles* Drew,- ; it; >wil 1! be remembered, was committed to prison for six'months in default of payment of a fine for. sealing at the Aucklinds in the close season, arid has just been liberated,on.., the petition. t of,-citizens. Last week he sued Batch for balance Waccountij'alleged td;be due to tim. Drew, meantime has published letters with the object of showing that it was with the knowledge of Hatch that «the schooner went tp the Aucklands, although-ostensibly-cleared for., Bass Straits rookeries 7 Duridgjtbe election contest Hatch was frequently twitted with a knowledge that the schooner had 4 to, the Aucklands, jand l steadily Mnied it. The news of {the jarrival pf the Awarua.at with the, pame foiir daysj before .the election, .and, generally •considered that it' cost Hatch his beat in, • • the i House. The . following j are portions : 'bf Hat'ch'd; letters :—"The only excuse' you have is going to Aucklands for,my boat, and the skins must not be on board before being ready to leave; and a good look out must be kept for a surprise visit. The Btei l la>hasi enough to\ t d6, and would not, remain* long j rthe, Hipemoa being at this moment laid up. If anything should turn up you will have to square; it with Gray of 'the Stella the besi?' iw-ay jyoti can. You could, of course, 'tell*'him that I- was-not-aware jyou were there, which would be correct, and he might then not be inclined to report on you, your clearance being distinctly for Bass Straits. lam sorry you did not have a slap at \ ihe Campbell] and Bounty islands after leaving Auckland, delaying only four daysj'would have put the election all right. It was a perfect smother. You will have read my expluniiti'on." In the case in which Capt. Drew sued Hatch lor £59 7s 8d as wages, the .defendant filed a set off of £Ll7<-16s6d, and judgment was given for plaintiff for £l2 14s 4d. Hatch, in a letter to the papers, says he will explain his letters to Drew in due I course.