SUDDEN DEPARTURE.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 456, 27 June 1871, Page 2

SUDDEN DEPARTURE.

We observe that a correspondent signing himself " Fair Play" in this morning's Cross taken us to task for our paragraph respecting the sudden departure per the "Alice Cameron." The writer says we have been "blending a small amount of truth with a much greater proportion of fiction ;" and the only portion of our statement which he impugns as fiction is that relating to the chartering of the Fairy. " Fair Play" says we alleged that " the little Fairy had been chartered to go in pursuit." We said no such thing, but we said that "the little Fairy was being chartered by a number ■of those who wished for a long last look at the departed ;" when the intending'pursuers were deterred by tho appearance of the weather. This is strictly true, one of the principal lamenting friends so acting being a jeweller in Queenstreet, whose cause of sorrow arose in this wise :—The lamented gentleman called on the jeweller and asked for a gold chain, saying that he wanted it to assist him in selling his watch, and he would pay.his account the following day. On receiving thp chain, " Fair Play's" friend forthwith deposited it and the watch with an auctioneer in Wyndham-etreet as security for money borrowed, who instanter walked round to the same jeweller, to know the value of the watch and chain. Ihe cat being thus out of the bag, the chain was restored, and a solemn assurance given of the immediate payment of tho remaining balance of £10. Bad it not been for the urgency required by this unfortunate conjuncture, the Hero would have been honored with the departure of "Fair Play's" friend, the Fairy having been speoially chartered by the departed for the purpose of placing him aboard that steamer. Among the various other friends interested in this melancholy event.is another jeweller in Victoria-street, who regrets to the extent of £13, this being money lent: on personal bond. Among tbe, number are also included most of the principal, tailors in the city, the objects of whose little regrets were probably contained in that'; mysterious big box on which his landlady had! laid her vigorous hand, and constituted thej trousseau of the departed gentleman. W4 think ;«'Fair Play" is »n injudicious friend/ and the less he says on the subject tho better

for the fame of the departed. " Pair Play" " sincerely hopes" that the gentleman who has left will visit on us our deserts for what we have said. If such visitation necessitates a return to Auckland, "Fair Play" will find on enquiry a good many joining in his wish ; biit the very number of these, and the peculiarity of their relations to " Fair Play's" friend, preclude the realisation of their hopes. " Fair Play had better leave us alone, for if he does not, we may say a little in-a future issue'about himself, and the private causes of his chivalrous defence.