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Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 331, 30 July 1889, Page 4

a jocose manner to Captain Setter to go and anchor, and lie (< 'aptain Carey) would bring the Rotomahana alongside the Boojutn. Now, if Mr F.D.H. had seen the master of the Ahuriri yesterday before writing his letter he would have got the whole of the facts of the case. Surely Mr E.D.H. must have been at the dinner, or he would have heard Mr Burton, the wharfinger, call out to those on board to put the matches out. He would also have heard Constable Shannessoy called upon. He would have seen one of the gentlemen footballers want to fight when he was told by one of the crew to blow out the light. I know Mr E.D.H. did not hear the gentlemen refuse to give up their tickets, or that one passenger advised the captain to screw on the fire hose and wet them down. As to the master stopping his vessel, I can say that he did perfectly right, as to proceed would have been absolutely dangerous, as at the time the steamer was stopped nothing could be seen or heard.—l am, &c., Present. July 23. / Sir,—-Your correspondent “ Present ” persists in libelling Captain Creagh in reference to the treatment of the visiting Gisborne footballers on the Ahuriri on Saturday night, and in pretending to believe that the extraordinary evolutions of the vessel, including probably the bumping against the wharf, were intentional and done to increase the discomfort of the passengers. The launch on this occasion was chartered to take out the Gisborne men to the steamer, and any other passengers would be there on sufferance. It scarcely seems credible, therefore, that Captain Creagh would have done all in his power to mako his charterers uncomfortable. The Gisborne footballers certainly struck matches to light their cigars and cigarettes. Some of them also struck them probably to see if the steamer's lights were lit, and if we are to believe “ Present,” one of them would have struck the erew. A very striking situation altogether. Now everybody knows that a lucifer match held in the fingers of a footballer burns for an extraordinary length of time, and emits a dreadfully baleful glare which renders everything else invisible. Scientists have frequently noticed this on striking a match to look for the moon on some particularly dark night. Of course under the circumstances Captain Creagh could not navigate his shin, and he insisted on all these dangerous lights being extinguished. There was no disturbance other than the confusion caused by this command. The story of the launch bring requested to anchor that the big steamer might come alongside WA'a absolutely correct as told by me, eifcept that by a slip of the pen I wrote “ mate ” instead of *’ captain,” It is safe f or « Present ” to apply it to poor Captain Setter. He ze dead, and dead men tell no tales. Neither can they contradict them. The anecdote I alluded to did not concern Captain Setter, though otherwise it was singularly like “ Present’s ” story. The actors in it were Captain Carey of the Rotomahana, and Captain Creagh of the launch, and the time was about 2 p.m. some nine months back. Perhaps if “ Present ” refers the matter to Captain Creagh he will be able to recall the incident to mind. Captain Carey certainly can. On important matters of nautical history it is always well to be accurate.—l am, &c., _ , E.D.H. July 24.

Sir, —My name has been unwarrantably and untruthfully used by your correspondent E D.H., who in his letters makes statements for which there are not the slightest grounds. Infuture perhaps he will kindly sign hia name. Further, I now tell him that every word used in the letters signed “ Present ” can be substantiated by. respectable and reliable witnesses, and that those statements re the footballers have not been inspired like his evidently have been. Whenever I single a man out in a letter to your paper I always sign my name.—l am, &e., B. B. Cbeagh. July 25. Sir, —When a correspondent to a paper mentions names he should always speak the. truth. That story about the captain of the Rotomahana is false, and the correct version, which is well known to all the old Spitites, was given by “ Present ” in his letter. The other circumstances connected with the departure of the footballers are correct, and I must say that more disorderly conduct I have seldom witnessed. If E.D.H. was there he could not but have seen some of the Napier “ gentlemen ” who were there make themelres as disorderly as the visitors. I could give names, but that would inflict pain, and so I refrain.—l am, Ac-, Also Present, [Fliis correspondence must naw cease. Ed. H.8.1f.d