AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 February 1925, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

A RIVERINA -MYSTERY. ST RA XGE DIS APPEAR ANCE. S’YDXEY, February 4

Widespread interest inis Leon aroused by the mysterious disappearance of a well-known grtizier, Mr T. 0. Thomson. of the southern Riverina, X.S.AY. The circumstances have so far completely baffled the detectives and many theories are being advanced, ranging from sudden loss of memory to some ghastly crime perpetrated in order to obtain possesion of a large sum of money that it is known .Mr Thomson

carried. .Mr Thomson, whose homestead is near lialranald, went to Melbourne hist December, accompanied by his son-in-law, Mr A. A .Simpson, for the purpose of completing the purchase of a large area of land near his present property. He had numerous interviews with agents and others, and in the course of a stay of several weeks completed a deal involving 7000 acres. With his son-in-law he decided to return to lialranald by the way of the Victorian city of llendigo, and on arrival there -Mr Thomson intimated that lie had certain private business to transact at Swan Hill, and he suggested that Mr Simpson should go to Halranald ahead. The two men parted, and .Mr Simpson went direct to Balranald. leaving his lather-in-law in llendigo. Two days later—January lltli—Mr Thomson arrived at lialranald. Many people saw and conversed with him. hut the same night he mysteriously disappeared. Several who knew him well saw him start from the coach about 10 p.m. to walk to his home, lie was seen to start to go across the large paddock of his property, hut none who know him lias seen him since. When Mr Thomson stepped off the coach lie appeared to he in his usual state of good health and spirits. He spoke cheerily to several persons lie knew. Sir. did not carry any luggage with him, having only an overcoat on his arm. Iho billow ing day the over coat was found lying on the ground in the paddock, hut otherwise. there was no trace of Mr Thomson. The discovery ol that garment led to the belief that Mr Thomson might have walked into the adjacent river and been drowned. That portion of the river was dragged, hut without avail. Then it came to' be known that .Mr Thomson had a considerable sum of money on him, and the theory was put ofrward that lie might have been murdered for his money. Then again certain personal peculiarities which did not at the time impiess people who saw him were recalled, and led to an investigation of his activities in Melbourne. The result of these pointed to the theory that lie might have been drugged. Being a strong man physically, lie would have been able to fight against the effects of the drug, and possibly would have succeeded in combating it until he reached his homo town, when lie may have wandered away oblivious of his own identity and surroundings. When the police took up the search they worked on the assumption that Mr Thomson had met with an accident and was probably drowned, but this is not now accepted as a solution of the mystery, and careful investigations are proceeding. “ 1111.1. Y ” 11 I'd IKS.

MAY AGAIN BE PRIME MINISTER SYDNEY, February 3.

M r TV. M. Hughes still commands a large following, and an influential one, who are apparently determined that il lie is temporarily out of the box seat lie is not to be completely obliterated politically. Of special significance in tins regard was the luncheon given in his honour at the Hofei Australia a day or two ago hv the Chamber oT Manufacturers—a gathering that included not a lew big hankers as well :i , manuali (iners and other business men. The fact that there was no special warrant for the gathering strengthens the suspicion that there is a desire among his supporters that Mr Hughes should not he obliterated, and that when, in the whirligig of polities Mr Bruce fades out, the ox-l’rime Minister should again get the call. Another signfieant I act was that at this luncheon Mr Hughes spoke from carefully prepared and revised typewritten notes—an unusual course for him. even in the days of his Prime Ministership. Mr Hughes in his speech emphasised the vital importance of encouraging manufacturers, and home production for the home market, as an influence lor good upon the primary industries and upon land settlement —sentiments that the gathering warmly applauded. Tn advocating a hold policy in regard to the secondary industries, Mr Hughes, while not striking any very new note, made unmistakably clear his sympathy with the hig manufacturing element. -Sit ting alongside ol him, bv the way, was another ex-Prime Minister, Mr J. C. Watson, almost unrecognisable with bis clean shaven face —a hirsute reform which far from improving him, has added years to his appearance.

A CAR TRAGEDY. MELBOURNE, fch. 18. At the inquest on Baker, killed in a. motor accident on February Ot-li. a verdict was returned that death was due to an accidental collision. Dough's, the English cricketer, gave evidence that the Chinese waggon was on the* wrong side of the road. He and Baker were quite sober and their ear was not raving.

Sun Keo. driver of the wagon, deposed that he "as oil the right side of the road. He saw three ears coming towards him just before the accident. Constable Martin gave evidence that when he reached the scene of the accident, Douglas and another occupant of the car were slightly under the lull tifiife of liquor.