AN AUCKLAND ABSCONDER.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1116, 24 February 1872, Page 2

AN AUCKLAND ABSCONDER.

The following particulars in relation to the recent absconding : of one Macdonala, from Auckland, are taken from a late issue of the Southern Gross: — > ; ' Auxibus inquiries were made on Satur-. i day morning for John : MacdonaldY a ■ young man who lias for several months . past occupied the . position,of , confidential, ;. clerk and bookkeeper to Mr E. Somer- \ ville, manager of the Thames and other gold-mining companies* Equally anxious. inquiries were made for a young lady wKSj ■ has ably presided- at a: well known city bar, dispensing the liquor thereat, and at the same time charming the , " spoons" of the town by her fascinating glances. - rUp ! ' to a ; late hour last night,: the' inquiries for these parties 'were unsatisfied, and it is generally believed that, '-having united') ; their fortunes^ .they departed from this • quarter of the globe in the steamship Nebraska early on Saturday morning. Macdonald was noted for his stately and" ; dignified bearing, his staid blaok coat, and *f correct"-: appearance. He was altogether highly favored in personal at* tractionsVatfd'wduld therefore 'under ''any • circumstances haveiproved; a los 3to the community ; but his sudden departure is likely to. be doubly ielt from the fact>thaK he has taken with him L5lB, the property! ,of various companies managed by Mr Somerville. JBe had received notice to leave Mr Somerville's employ on the Saturday, and on Friday evening he delivered up the safe key. Nothing .was suspected to be wrong, and therefore !'no search was made on Saturday morning, when,' there being no appearance on" the part of Macdonald, the safe Wai opened, and a deficit of L5lB discovered. It had been the custom of; iKe office ti> place all small amounts of money received' for calls or dividends in one bag, and this was kept iti the safe until the money was banked. On Friday this, bag oonr; tamed a large sum of rnoheyj arising chiefly from calls paid, on account of Junction oharesjand business transacted in connection with the .Thames. .Goldmining Company. On Saturday morning the bag was found to have been emptied; ivnd stuffed with paper, s A: cheque for Ll4l, paid to the Thames Gold-tniriing Conipany, ; as a dividend arising from the < liquidation of the Poverty and Charleston, had been given in the early part of the week to Macdonald to bank. .Instead, however, of placing it to the credit of the company, it appears he turned it into gold, and rendered no account of it. Another clerk in the office ; had met Macdonald on the whari about 6 o!clock ;on Friday evening, and had arranged with him to be down early on the following 7 (Saturday) morning to settle up accounts "■ before taking over the booksi At the time his fellow-clerk met him, Macdonald >as quietly smokifig,and talked of the r morrow as though the idea of leaving town was the very last thing in :] his^ thoughts. When' he failed to present himself in ,the morning a messenger was up to his lodgings, an<i was informed by the landlady that Mr Macdonald has

gone to the North Shore on the previous evening and had not returned. The lady, we learn, only took her fair self away, but she did so in such a cool and philosophical manner as to command the admiration of her fellows, and to redeem the fair sex from the accusation of being unable to keep a secret. She performed all her accustomed duties until the bar closed at 11 o'clock at night. She then partook of supper, after which, wishing her friends good night, sholeft the house, no doubt joining Macdonald outside, and proceeding with him on board.