A MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR.

West Coast Times, Issue 3221, 21 January 1876, Page 2

A MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR.

I A correspondent of the Timaru Herald writes ;— A man named M'Dougall, well known in the Temuka and Geraldine districts, being out of employment, went to Christchurch about the middle of November last in quest of a situation. He stayed at Hawkin's Temperance boardinghouse, and paid tor his board in advance. After the first week's stay in Christchurch he was engaged by J. Pearson as a storeman, and Mr Jameson's store to assist iru stocktaking. On the evening of the third day, Monday, the 24th November, haying' returned from his work rather, late,. and: while taking tea the firebell rang, and he with others ran out to see the fire; which proved to be a boot factory in flames. Later in the same evening another fire broke' oiit in a deserted honse near the Ferry road, Whether -he went to this ia not known, but he has never been seen or heard ot since he ran out from- the tea' table. The most mysterious part of it is, that he received a telegram that day from his wife, living in Geraldine t stating that she had posted a lesteij for him, addressed Post Office, Christchurch, in whicK she, had sent him a P.O.'- order. The letter was never> dialed for, nor was £2-53-awarded to him at the, Resident Magis-^ trate's Court, until the wife ' recovered them, when she went' up to look after him ,a week after, owing to her not being able to get any tidings from him. She found his other suit of clothes, &c, just as she had left them at his lodgings. ,We may mention that we believe that M'Dougall was; a very quiet, sober, man, aad very much attached to his wife and family. So that fears are justly < entertained that he. has met with his death, and circumstances seem to indicate that it is not by fair means, as ho trace whatever can be ; found of him. He had written to his wife two or three times during his jßfcay in Cnristchurch telling her all the circumstances concerning himself' as they happened. So that there is no ground whatever to think .that he had either destroyed himself or deserted his. wife and family. The'only 1 bthe'f conclusion is that he has, been murdered, McDougall -is thirty- four years of age, stands sft lbm high, is a native of Scotland, has a, dark complexion, with a small dark moustache and beard. The wife is living at Gteraldine, and has six small children, whom'stiefs now struggling to earn a living for.

la there anythiug ia the world can beat a good wife ? Yes, a, bad husband. , The most steadfast follower of your fortunes. — Our creditor's.'- ." . ' k Waiting for dead men's shoes is 1 , inmost cases, a bootless affair. Waisting Sweetness— jjutting your arm about a pretty woman, '* Q GpfeW^aii editor) xirot&Mi advice to a newly marfiecl frienfffand -was foolish enough to prkit it. AftAis wife had looked.owerathe pronfiof .the " advice " the editor felt compelled to add this postscript :— " Have your, hair cut close.to the skin." ' " J •' ' -> 6 - v * 11 There ! " said Jones, as he wrathfully pushed away the pie which bislandlady had jnst UrrpQ. him, "'tfflit stuff isn't fit fora 'pig W^eaj, ami t ain't going to eat