ANOTHER DEFAULTER.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1685, 12 January 1888, Page 3

ANOTHER DEFAULTER.

A young man" Darned Gould, who hasbeen postmaster at Dargaville, Auckland, has disappeared, and there is considerable •bortage in his accounts. It is supposed that he took his departure for ’Frisco by the Zealandia on Monday. Gould, who *as » little over thirty years of age, is married, exceedingly popular, and was Secretary and Treasurer of the Dargaville Volunteer Company, and the local lodgea of the Masonic, Oddfellows and Foresters’ Societies. Eaob.of these ia now lamenting bis departure. The full amount of bis defalcations is not known, but there is reason to believe the Societies mentioned are heavy losers, and his accounts with the Government in connection with bis official position are short over £IOO. He bad been in the habit of receiving moneys of the Societies, aod was supposed to deposit them at the Bank of New Zealand, Mangawhare, to the credit of the ' Societies' trustees. It has been ascertained that since August, 1866, he did not. make a single payment with aoy of those accounts. The Posi-tffice was inspected last November, and everything was found correct. Indeed, the missing official had the reputation of, being one of ' the most reliable and competent officers in the Auckland district. It is surmised that the societies, of which he was treasurer, required an.audUfor the year, and being afraid to meet thia be took

money necessary for flight from the postal fund. One point in his favor is that he might have taken a greater nmount of cash from the Post-office had lie chosen. It is nut absolutely known whether he has gone to ’Frisco or to Sydney.