A Wanderer

NZ Truth, Issue 1147, 24 November 1927, Page 6

A Wanderer

TO look for a man with a twisted foot m a city the size of Chicago, even

before it had reached its present proportions, sounds a tough proposition, yet that was the aim of James Murray when a young man and serving his apprenticeship to life as a rover of the world.

But before that— at an age when many young men would still be reaching out their hands parentwards for a weekly dole — Murray, had been to Hong Kong m 1882 and sailed the Atlantic many times; had stowed away on a transport, not being accepted when he tried to enlist, hoping to be one of those who would march to Kabul

Not being blessed with any of this world's gold supply and desiring to try his luck m Australia, he hopped it m New York and found work of a kind there until he saved enough to travel to the pork packers' paradise.

Hardship never cowed his independence nor curbed his adventurous spirit and after tackling every kind of job he at last came to New Zealand, finally settling at Waihi and becoming justice of the peace and agent for the Public Trustee.

James Murray is one of- the fine old gentlemen who are a link with the good old days.