Untitled

Manawatu Times, Volume II, Issue 41, 10 March 1877, Page 3

The following contains the substance of a special telegram to the Wellington " Post :" — Some weeks ago the Immigration Commissioner, Major Green, received certain documents from England proving beyond a doubt that Joseph J. Foster, one of the immigrants on board the ship Oxford, and described m the passenger list as a married man, emigrating to New Zealand with his wife, had left his real wife and familj' m England without, means of support. After the official inspection of the ship to-day, the reputed bigamist was called aft into the saloon and was examined by the Immigration Commissioner. He is a young man about twenty-eight years of age, of sallow complexion and unprepossessing appearance and bears a very bad character on board. He at first denied the charge, but on being shown documents with full particulars of the complaint lodged by his wife, the church where he was married, and the children he had left behind, he said it was all true, but he was not married twice, for the woman with liim was not his wife. The pseudo, Mrs. Foster, was then called m, and when asked if she was married to Foster, replied " No." Major Green informed the man that if the law could not touch him m any other way, he would be prosecuted for signing a false statement. The woman said her proper name was Mary Ann Tlieakston. Among the documents received by Major Green is one that shows that J. J. Foster served twenty days m goal m England as a vagrant. From the " Charleston Herald " of the 17th February, we copy the folio wing: — It is rumored that on account of Palmerston North not being chosen the Manawatu county town its inhabitants have become dissatisfied with the arrangements under the Counties Act and are anxious to have their township created a borough under the provisions of the Municipal Corporation Act.