MR HATCH’S EXPLANATION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1754, 23 June 1888, Page 4

MR HATCH’S EXPLANATION.

Invercaegale, June 21.

To-night Mr Joseph Hatch, exmeajjbeT for Inverpargill; addressed a rde'eting convened by him to givb hint the opportunity; of vindicating himself from a charge of conniving in the seal poaching expedition of the schooner Awarua to the Auckland IslandsVyhen} the vessel cleared" 1 for Bass "‘Strait sealeries, and also to let him reply! ti? the allegation that he had committed perjury in connection with the prosecution brought by Government against Captain Drew,’ master of the vessel,,, for poaching. . Over ,150 j) people, were present. for over two hours., /He denied that ; he| a agrped with anyone. to break the law,"'and contended l that Ihe sole reason for writing theietfer to Captain Drew, which Had been published, was that he felt certaiAfrbm what he heard prew|Bkd determined to go,the A.ucklanSs'in spite of all'"remonstrances of ins, and he wished Captain Drew distinctly to; understand the risk ho ran in so doing, anti that he must get out of any scrape he got into, and need not 'look 'to, him for countenance. The meeting ’ was more orderly .than was expected,considering the personalities indulged in. Mr' Hatch asserted that the real reason yvhy he , bad ‘been, bounded in the Southland News Was that he hid dared lo oppose one of itk proprietors for Parliament, and had ( licked him, and with a fair field 1 would 'do sa again tomorrow. He challenged the proprietors and editor, of that paper to lay an information;for perjpry ; him. At the close of the meeting Mr J. P, Joyce, ex-member- for Awarua, moved that Mr Hatch’s explanation ,was not satisfactory,' and that it was the duty of Govenment to : take proceedings against,,him ,for seal poaching and perjury. .The chairman,' Mr NJohnson, declared the motion lost on voices, whiph were about equal.,