A FIGHT FOR MONEY OR LIFE.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 151, 24 April 1886, Page 4

A FIGHT FOR MONEY OR LIFE.

Some sensational rumours appear to hare got afloat to the effect that the body of a man found in the boat which came ashore four miles from here, clenched a large knife in his hand, and that the knife had blood upon it—the inference, of course, being that there had been foul play. I am happy to say the story is a pure fabrication The man who found the body saw no knife about beyond ordinary sailors' knives of which there were a couple in the boat. On the body of the man supposed to be an engineer was found a considerable sum of money, as I informed you last night. Upon further examination today, the police found a cheque for £25 drawn by Mr Galbraith, who was a passenger, in favour of the U.S.S. Company. This money and cheque, it is presumed, should have been found on the body of the purser. It ia otherwise unaccountable how a cheque from a passenger came into the possession of any other officer. A full description of the purser (Spoonerj has been obtained Irom his friends, and the body has been carefully examined by Mr Liggins (manager of the Company), the police, and others, but it is impossible that the body found can be that of the purser (Spooner), as the description m no way applies. The possession of the money by the man found must remain a mystery, especially in so far as the cheque is concerned The amount is exactly the return fare from Wellington to Lyttelton Mr Galbraith, the drawer of the cheque, is a well-known man to the travelling public, being patent agent, and constantly travelling. He was only the other day in Blenheim, doing business, and exhibiting several patent articles at the Agricultural Show Mr Mason, the partner of Mr Vallance, arrived this evening from Kaikoura; also the Christchurch " Press " correspondent. Another correspondent of a Christchurch paper made an effort to ride through from Kaikoura,'26 miles away, but had to give it up and return.