“Joseph” on His Defence.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 314, 23 June 1888, Page 2

“Joseph” on His Defence.

Per Press Association

Invercargill, June 22.

To-uight, Mr Joseph Hatch, ex-mem-ber for luvereargi l ', addressed a meeting convened by him to Rive him eu opportunity of v 'nd’eatiug hiujse’f from a charge of coc-nv.'ng in the seal poaching expedited of the schooner Avvatua to the Auck'and Islands, when tho \essel ostensibly cleared for the Bass Strait sealeries; and a 1 so the a legation tb.it ho had committed perjury in connection with tho prosecution brought by i the Government against Drew, master of the vessel, for poaclrog. The theatre was filled to tho doors, over 1500 heimf present. Mr Hatch spoke for over two hours' ' He denied that he had agreed with anyone- in break the law, and contended •’bat the solo reason for wri’ : ng the,letter to Drew, which has been published, was that ho felt certain from what ho hoard in Dunedin that Drew was determined to go to the Auck’andsin spite of a’l the remonstrances of his, and be wished Drew distinctly to understand the risk he ran in so doing, and that he must gef. out of any scrape he got into and needed not to look to him for countenance. The meeting was more orderly than was expected, considering the personalities indulged in. Mr Batch asserted that the real reason why he had been Founded clown ’>i the columns of the Southland News was that lie had dared to oppose one of its proprietors for Parliament and had licked him, and with a fnir field would do so again to-morrow. Jle chal lengecl the proprietors and edito:r of that paper to lay an information for perjury against him. At the close of the meeting Mr J. P. Joyce, ex-member for Awarua, moved, That Mr Hatch’s explanation is not satisfactory, and that it is tho duty of the Government to proceed agamst h : nfor seel poach-ug and ;perjuiy. The Cbaiinan (Dr Johnson) dc cl lived tho motion lost on the voices, wl ’ch were about equal.