A STRANGE COINCIDENCE.

Evening Star, Issue 2963, 17 August 1872, Page 2

A STRANGE COINCIDENCE.

In our telegranbic intelligence a week or two ago, the death in Auckland of PoliceInspector Morton was chronicled. The Southern Cram of the 13th ult. has the following obituary notice On Wednesday last William Nixon Morton, an inmate oi our Lunatic Asylum, died, and yesterday an inquest was held on bis remains, when the jury

Returned a verdict that death was the result of natural causes. Although “unhonored and unsung” in this part of New Zealand poor Morton had been a man of some mark years ago in the South Island, as well as m Victoria. It was about ISyears since when Mr Morton, then a remarkably handsome young man, was a cadet in the Victorian Mounted Police. There be became one of the smartest and cleverest of Colonial detectives, and subsequently he was promoted to be sub-inspector in the Geelong Constabulary Force. Then in 1861, when the rush took place to Otago, and the Provincial authorities desired to have organised an efficient constabulary force, Mr Branigan was sent for from Victoria to come to Dunedin, where be was made Commissioner of Police. With him came Mr M nr t° n as .his rignt* band man, and these two organised what was at the time, and has been ever since, admitted to be the finest_ of all the Colonial police forces in existence. Passing strange that these two—who were the founders of a police system of winch every Province in New Zealand is reaping the benefit to this day should, a few yours afterwards, come face to face with each other, both confined as lunatics in the Auckland Asylum. One died on Wednesday from exhaustion resulting from bis frenzied struggles ; the other is still a helpless broken clown, paralysed, and demented man. It was soon after the Wakamarina goldfield was discovered that Mr Morton was sent over and appointed Inspector of a new force drawn from the picked men of the Armed Constabulary of Otago. Here he remained some time, and was married to the daughter of one Marlborough’s oldest and most respected settlers. Subsequently Mr Morton went to Otago ; from there to the Fijs ; from the Fijis to Auckland ; and from there to meet his old brother officer, friend, and comrade, in that asylum where two days ago poor Morton was released from a world which to him of late years had been one full of sorrow and great tribulation.”