DISAPPEARANCE OF MR G. W. GOODGER.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1129, 21 December 1883, Page 3

DISAPPEARANCE OF MR G. W. GOODGER.

In our last week's issue we published a telegram announcing the disappearance of the above well-known resident of Cromwell. It is our painful duty to say since then nothing has been heard and no trace can be found of him, the assumption accordingly is that he has met with a tragic death. We take the following particulars from the Cromwell Argus : When, on Thursday, it became known that Mr G. W. Gnodger had left his home. at an early hour in the morning (between three and four o'clock) and had not been seen during the day, a very painful impression wai created. This feeling was intensified from the fact that the missing man was not fully dressed when he left lis house, wearing only his trousers and socks, his other apparel being found in the bedroom. Ho was heard to leave the house by members of his family, but being an early riser as a rule, and not being well, no particular notice was taken of his going nut. Not till an hour or two afterwards was any alarm felt, when on enquiry no word could bo got of the missing man. Energetic search was made in a semi-private way throughout the day, bat without any result. In the afternoon several parties went out, but not the faintest tracoof Mr Goo lger could be found, and serious fears then arose that something serious had happened to him. On Friday morning a number of leading townspeople met and organised a systematic baud of -•earchers, who scoured the surrounding country for a radius of fully four miles. Their effort?, however, met with no reward, and the conviction was forced upon nearly everyone that the unfortunate man had found his end in the river running at no •great distance from his residence. The police examined the river bank downwards ■for several miles, and stations lower down f were advised to be on the look out. The theory—fir at preseut it is little more—that Mr Goodger has mot his death in the riv»r, seems sho more probable seeing that for the ten days previous to Thursday he bad been -confined to his room, and was in too weak a condition to ove.take a journey of any longtb. For some tinio back his general hj alth had not been satisfactory, and it ia said that recent reverses of fortune had -Hindered him despondent and at times slighily aberrant mentally. Within two days of h'.s disappearance he had complained of an acute pain in his head, and was alto* gether in an unsatisfactory condition. Taking all the sn rounding into consideration, it seems highly probable that in a moment of mania and perhaps more acute physical suffering our unhappy townsman ■ended his troubles in the river. Too many of Mr Goodger's oldest acquaintances this idea is repugnant, as being utterly opposed to the man's nature, which ordinarily was buoyant, hopeful, and self-reliant. But it must be remembered that Mr Goodger had gone through twelve months of weary harassment and worry over his business affairs, and it is not surprising if the strain upon his mind proved more than could be erdured, and reason became unthroned, with the sad results above recorded. The misfortune is aggravated by the fact that until Mr Goodger's body is found—for death must

by this time have ensued from exposure and exhaustion if the river assumption is incorrect—his affairs cannot be administered for the benefit of his family, for whom the warmest sympathy is felt in tbis most melancholy affair. Few names of GolAMdfi residents are ttinr« Generally known throughout, Otago than that of Mr Goodgar. Indeed, it is too much to say that the town of Cromwell through Disconnection with it was brought

into prominence in the commercial and raining circles to a much wider extent than it would otherwise have been. In town itself he for years took a leading part in all our institutions, sorvir.g as mayor and councillor raviolis terms In establishing of our local Hospital he was an indefatigable worker and liberal supporter, and in other ways did much that was praiseworthy. Ho was a man of great enterprise, and if his ventures were not always wise or prudent they invariably tended to the benefit of the district ia which he lived. Whilst in p«>sparity, he was continually devising new sohemes, to carry put which coss a heap ot money, expended both 1-o.lly «nd .otherwise. As'the largos', proprietor in th<_ Cromwell Quartz Company at nendigo-ot which famous mine he was one of the origimi owners—and the landlord ot a flourish-fers-avhotel property, at one time his uwomI r «nst have been very large, and at this time i""*- everything ho took in hand was gone into lavishly, if not extravagantly. Rut the rich returns from the mine dm not hoi., out, business otherwise became slack, and things did not prosper with out popular townsman. Gradually ho becamo more involved m financial troubles, winch at length brought about the painful result above chronioled. Peep and universal regret will, wp are sure, be felt by all who new George Wellington Goodger that a man of such bold enterprise and hboral heart should close his career in so pitiable a manner as circumstances lead one to believe. \Ve write as of one who is doad • to think otherwise would bo to hops against hope. The bereaved family themselves accept tho worst aspect oonnetced wi'h V.r Goodgcr's disappearance, and only look for the oomfort of paying the last filial respects to his rem»mß-a comfort which we trust will yet he vouchsafed to them.