A CRUEL HOAX

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1915, 11 August 1888, Page 3

A CRUEL HOAX

A cruel joke, saya tbo "Tuapeka Timeß," was perpetrated a few days ago on a highly respected Taapeka-settler, and one whom we migbt describe as comfortably oircomrtinoed. He received a letter from a pseudo firm of solicitors m Duoedln informing him of the death o! an estasmed uncle, who had bequathed to htm all his wealth, which wss represented by some four figures- Hoping to be honored with bis instructions, they begged to remain "his most obedient servants, Llgglns aud Brown." It so happened that the recipient of the letter lisa expectations m the direction indicated, which the perpetrators of the joka may have heard him speck •boat ; and so the lucky nephew may be excused for taking tbe whole thing bb granted and acting with the air of a man to whom fortune wss not & stranger. In • fit of generoßity he committed himself to several large donations to churches and other deserving olj cts; his daoghter was ordered to cut tbe baker and hook on to the curate ; his son was peremptorily told to resign a position of some importance at ths grocer's ; aod to crown all, tbe generous unole was mentioned m the prayers of the village congregation at tbe earliest opportunity. A subsequent letter from Dunedin, m reply to inquiries >c Messrs Liggins and Brown, revealed tbe distressing fact that such a firm naver existed ; and from the latest advices from Home the wealthy ouole rill eurvivas.