MURDOCH’S DIFFICULTIES.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2551, 25 May 1881, Page 3

MURDOCH’S DIFFICULTIES.

Concerning the insolvency of Mr Murdoch, the captain of the last Australian eleven, the Sydney “ Evening News’” says:—“We are told it is better to be horn lucky than rich, and doubtless Mr W. L. Murdoch, the worthy skipper of the Australian eleven, believes there is some truth in that adage. With just a little bit of luck Murdoch might have made a name and a fortune as a South sea trader, but fortune failed to smile on him, and consequently his venture, instead of bringing him riches, compellea him to sequestrate his estate as an insolvent, Mr Murdoch, it appears, entered with another person into a South Sea Island shipping speculation, and be■came part proprietor of a vessel which was fitted up with all the requirements necessary for South Sea trading, and despatched on her voyage. Success at first seems to have attended the enterprise, but it was very short-lived, for soon the news reached Sydney of the total loss at Noumea, of the ship and her freight. -Even this ill-success, disastrous as it was, might have been tided over but for the peculiar conduct of Mr Murdoch’s partner, who after realising the insurance on the ship and her freight, which amounted to a considerable sum, was seized with a sudden desire to visit America, and accordingly took his departure thither, Reaving Mr Murdoch to lament his .defection, and—pay the partnership ibills. Although the ship and partner were got rid of so easily, creditors were still left, and consequently, we find Mr Murdoch compelled to add his name to the list of insolvents. However, the cause of the insolvency having been .attributed to circumstances over which Murdoch could have no possible control, he does not appear to have had much difficulty in passing through the Insolvency Court, as on the 3rd inst. a certificate of conformity was granted him, no objections having been lodged hy the creditors.”