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Dunstan Times, Issue 1066, 29 September 1882, Page 4

A 11 auxtf.d House — A mysterious circumstances is reported by the Lyttelton Times f o have occurred in an hotel in Christchurch recently, just about the time when it changed hands. The house was empty, a thorough clear out having taken place. The landlord, on the first night of the occurrence, wis the only person sleep ing in the house, and he was distuH ed about midnight by hearing a mac’s heavy foo'falls along the passage. They were slow and distinct, and the landlor thought at first that a po tciinan had found a door open, and was going throw hj the house to see that all was s■•fe. He got up to see who it was, hue though he followed the footsteps all over the house, -long passages, up and down staircases, and at times appeared to almost com" up to them, no person was to he seen. Mystified, the host examined the doors and windows, hut as they were all properly fastened, the mystery was only made deeper by tho examination The next night the same footfalls were heard, and the unavailing chase after them all through building took place. Thoroughly roused on the third day the landlord had new locks put on all the doors, and new fastenings on all the windows, determined to keep nut the intruder. By this time his vife, s one women servants, and a boots were in the house. Surely, thought he, if it was fancy, I won’t hear the marching about to night. Rut shortly after midnight his wife woke him, saying a man was walking about tho house, at the same time the boots was roused by the frightened servants, for the house not being yet re-furnished or got into order, no lodgers had been taken in. This time there cnnld be no mistake about it. Roth hoots and landlord chased the steps, but though they dodged and ran, and at times seemed to be close to them, they saw nothing, nor has the mystery ever been solved. The footsteps have not been heard since the house was re-furnished and business resumed.