A CURIOUS STORY.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 70, 20 March 1877, Page 3

A CURIOUS STORY.

The Neio Zealand Times of Saturday last says :—" A little story of an interesting character, romantic too, but real withal, was unfolded to a member of our reporting staff yesterday. It appears that some time ago a man named John McMahon lived in Wellington, having been employed at one period by Mr. Rhodes, and subsequently by Dr. Johnston. Now McMahon was like Pip—he had expectations ; they may not have been great; but at any rate he expected at any moment to be sent a considerable sum of money—sap £1000 or more ;and very naturally he was in the habit of visiting the Post-office to see if anything had turned up. At last he was rewarded. Calling at the Post- office in the month of January last, he received a letter addressed John McMahon, and enclosed was a draft for £800. He went to a certain bank in Wellington upon which tlie draft was drawn, and presented it. lie was of course questioned closely for the purpose of ascertaining whether he was the real Simon Pure, and he was required to give references. Accordingly, he referred them to Dr. Johnston and two other gentlemen who know him well, and the statements made to the bank were apparently satisfactory ; for on the strength of their representations the £800 was paid over to McMahon* He then cleared out, and went to Melbouro, we believe, with the intention of proceeding thence to England. Now comes the interesting part of the story. Among the immigrants by the Hnrimui which arrived here a few days ago were amarried couple—Mr. John McMahon and his wife—and this John McMahon presented himself at the bank with a duplicate of the draft for £800, for which the other John McMahon had received cash. Here, to use a common phrase, was "a pretty kettle of fish." It seems that before Mr. Ilunmui Me Mahon (that is probably a good way to distinguish him) left Ireland for New Zealand, he posted a draft, and the letter of course reached here before he did. He addressed it ' John McMhon, Post Office, Wellington, to be called for.' On presenting himself at the bank, he Avas told what had happend ; that the money had been paid to his namesake. Mr. Huruuui was naturally disappointed, nay, wroth at finding how matters stood, and we are given to understand intends taking an action at law for the recovery of his money. The peculiarity of the matter is that the other John was not guilty of intentional fraud. He was in reality expecting this money, and finding a letter addressed to him with a draft in it for £800, very naturally turned it into money. He went Home from thiscolonyin 1874, and returned again. Before going Home he used at one time to keep the Northern Hotel, in Pabnerston, Otago, and had also been a sergant of police. The lately arrived John came out as an immigrant.