TICHBORMIANA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 369, 2 April 1881, Page 2

TICHBORMIANA.

Dunedin, has very nearly had the. credit of producing .a link in the Tich-. borne chain of evidence, and quite _

flutter of excitement has been created ■amongst, a few people by the possibility of such a thing. A story gpt abroad that'a “many years ago” bought a box, \yhich box jkad recently been bear the ■jf] per-cription Orton.” There J3k ore uiaftf'snggestionß about wlitit mightrise out of this, as may be imagined. the release ot the doughty Roger himself was hinted at. Naturally the matter came to the ears of a “ newspaper man,” who, had he been like certain “ specials,” ot whom even New Zealand has heard tell, could have furbished up a nice sensational bit of gossip out of it. But he was troubled with the failing that drove Mark Twain jgjit bt the reporting profession— “he could tell a lie, but wouldn’t,” and having inquired fully into the story he finds that it resolves itself into the following, The gentleman in question truly enough bought a box 16 years ago. He bought in from a pawnbroker, empty It has a name upon it, but it only ap-

proaches the “ real Mackay.” The mysterious chest is labelled “J. S. Orton, Otago, New Zealand, per Black Swan ; wanted on the voyage.” Who this Orton was, of course, cannot be said but he was not “ Arthur,” and so Dunedin has lost a chance of becoming famous. We have had a Captain Barry who knpw Arthur, but glory behind this is not to be ours.