SWITZERS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 132, 18 August 1870, Page 6

SWITZERS.

A Switzers correspondent of the. " Wakatip Mail," writes :— " A clever arrest was made on, Friday night at the Mataura Bridge by Constable Fleming. A notorious, character- named John Gough — a. Sydney native, 28 years of age, 6 feet high, 'no chicken' — was employed, I bullock driving .last week bj> Mr. Walter M'lvor, settler of Waikava Plains. Op. Thursday,-, Mr. M'lvor gave a letter to Grough, addressed to, the Manager of the Company's Station, Mataura. The letter contained a cheque for £IG, which the bearer knew. Grough started as ordered, talcing with him a team of bullocks (12 in number), and a horse, saddle, and bridle, which he was to use collecting the team in the mornings. He got on all right till he came to the Longford shanty, where he unyoked his bullocks, and went into the shanty to refresh the inward man. Gough's troubles are dated from this ni^ht. He 'shouted' while his money lasted, and then bethought himself of the precious letter and its contents, which he carried in his vest pocket. He took the letter out, broke the seal, had the cheque cashed, and enjoyed life for that night,. Next morning he mounted his horse, .or rather M'lvor's, and rode to the Bridge Hotel, Mataura. Here he represented himself as an up-country squatter; sold his. horse, saddle, and bridle to a poor man, named M'Gillivray, of the j^TataiiT-a Busk. He tnen. offered the team of bullocks for sale, and was offered £160 for the team and wag-, gon, but would not sell for less, than £200. Mr. M'lver got scent that, his bullock driver did not reach the Company's station ; suspected that all was not right, and reported his suspicions to the police. Mr. Fleming started in pursuit, reached Mataura Bridge same night, entered Cameron's Hotel, and, from the description received, arrested Gough. What a ' sell ' for thp upcountry squatter ! He was 'pitching ' — close to a good fire in a comfortable room, with five of the small Ma.tauraites — about his well bred stock, when Mr. Fleming entered the room, and politely informed him that he was justj ust the man that he had that day Jjidden upwards of seventy mjles after. Mr. Up-country Squatter has. this day/ been remanded for a week. Both cages — horse-stealing and embezzlement-,- art. very clear, agaist him,"