A TAIHAPE COMEDY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1079, 18 March 1911, Page 6

A TAIHAPE COMEDY.

HALF-CASTE WOMAN ARRESTED. TREY THOUGHT SHE WAS A MILLIONAIRESS. (By Telegraph.-, Special Correspondent.) Taihape, March 17. A comedy, intermingled with dreams of wealth and splashes of champagne, has just been perpetrated at Taihape by a half-caste woman, who has been before tho public on many occasions. The lady in question arrived in Taihape early in tho week accompanied by a largo sealskin cloak, and calmly inlonned a well-known resident that she intended to buy up half the town, endow it with a hospital reserve, sanatorium, and hand rotunda, and incidentally spend a hundred thousand or so oil a (icsirablo sheep station. Tho visitor, it is alleged, mentioned several well-known people as relatives, and the news quickly spread that there was a half-caste millionairess in Taihapo with designs of buying up half the Main Trunk line. Tho landlord of tho hostelry included a champagne breakfast in the menu the first morning • after her arrival, and then late in tho day she placed herself, so it is said, in communication with some Taihapo land agents to whom she earnestly mentioned that she desired to buy property in Taihapo and that her private secretary was iollov.'ing behind in a motor-car. Sho also stated that sho would have bought a liawko's Bay run for something like £100,000, but for the fact that tho climato did riot agree with her. Although quite a new arrival at Taihapo tho visitor declared that sho felt a friendly feeling to the place, and therewith she proposed to endow .it with sundry substantial acts of beneficence. The refercneo to a sanatorium, band rotunda, and other things brought about an introduction to two bank managers, and although theso gentlemen exercised their customary caution, the fact that tho lady had waited upon the magnates was confidently regarded by some. Taihapo people as added proof that sho had money to burn. Her departure next morning in a carriage to view properties in the district might have been taken .as a Coronation rehearsal on a small scale. With bared heads her escort led the way to the vehicle, one holding tho precious sealskin cloak as if it wero anointed, another holding tho horse's head with a grim strength which almost gave tho animal tho staggers, while another held open tho door of tho carriage and bowed her in with all the solemnity and honour due to a royal duchess. The guest departed in a blaze of triumph, but pursued with curious eyes by a baud of residents to whom sho had also confided that sho wished to buy town sections. Nearly every business man in Taihape owns freehold property of some description, and- consequently all were interested in the gamo. That afternoon there was raoro "fun on the Bristol." Tho lady treated her acquaintances, and the landlord, served a small bottle of champagne to tile cab-driver, who had- merely asked for a small beer. The lady then announced her intention of purchasing some racehorses from a local resident, and at the same time sho ordered a largo amount of drapery from one of the leading stores. Meanwhile, however, tho manager of one of tho banks had sent a code telegraphic message to Xapior to a certain bank whero 'the ladv said she had an account, and the reply was.unsatisfactory. "The gaff was blown." The polico were made acquainted jyith certain facts, and after making inquiries they arrested the woman, whose name is Martha Tainui. She was this morning charged at the. Magistrate's Court, Taihape, with false pretences, and remanded till Tuesday next. Bail was not forthcoming, and the woman w-as to-day taken into tho Wanganui gaol to await her trial. Tho affair has created a sensation in tho district.