Mad or Bad? by Jenny Coleman

Author:Jenny Coleman
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Otago University Press

I am

Yours Sincerely

P.C. Redwood16

That same day, Percy wrote to Mr James William Mitchell, a tailor for the New Zealand Clothing Factory, with premises in Clyde Street, Balclutha. In the usual polished business-style manner, the letter read:

Dear Sir,

I am to be married to Miss Ottaway on Apl. 28th inst. & shall require a couple of suits &c. for the occasion.

Mrs Ottaway recommended you as being the best one to fulfil the order, so I am writing to ask you if you will come down here & take the measurements, or would you prefer that I should come to Balclutha?

Kindly let me know per return & oblige

Yours very truly

P.C. Redwood17

Although he had never met him in person, James Mitchell, who had a seaside residence near Kaka Point where he often spent his weekends, had heard about this new arrival at the boarding house, and had thought it strange that someone who was supposed to be rolling in money had chosen to come to such an out-of-the-way place as The Nuggets. He had said as much to one of the local fishermen, who had explained that while Mr Redwood had some health issues, he certainly did seem to have plenty of money. Hearing that this newcomer was to marry the daughter of the boarding house owners, only added to the sense of mystery, and Mitchell argued with the fisherman about it, speculating as to Mr Redwood’s age. His story of having been a jockey made sense of his small build, but for some reason Mitchell couldn’t quite resign himself to accept that this curious chap, who had made himself very popular with the local fishermen, shouting them beer and whisky, was simply a broken-down jockey. When Mr Redwood’s letter arrived with what would obviously be a substantial order, James Mitchell’s suspicions were again aroused. Somehow he just could not accept what he had been told, that this man was the son of a long-standing racing family, who shaved every day, carried a flask of whisky in his hip pocket, and smoked a dirty-looking pipe, even if he did seem to smoke more matches than tobacco. Following his hunch that Mr Redwood was not genuine, he decided not to answer the letter.18

In the meantime, Percy had been busy with the important matter of the marriage licence. Making his way to the local office at Romahapa on 8 March, Percival Leonard Carol Redwood, bachelor, made a formal application to Mr Marcus Thomas Jackman, the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages. Having provided all the particulars, as required under the 1908 Marriage Act, he paid the fee of one pound for the marriage licence, and two shillings and sixpence for the certificate to be forwarded to the officiating minister. Percy then returned to The Nuggets, no doubt with even more of a swagger in his step. With the licence now in hand, the next task was to secure the services of a minister. Taking up his pen again, he wrote the following letter to Reverend John

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