THE MILLIONAIRE OF THE MOMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 19, 23 January 1897, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE MILLIONAIRE OF THE MOMENT.

HOW HE CAPTURED THE COIN.

(from our special correspondent.)

London, December 4. The millionaire of the moment is Mr Ernest T. Hooley, who dawned on a delighted public about six weeks ago in connection wifch fche purchase and sale of fche Bovril business. Up fco that time the world (barring a few financiers) knew not Hooley. I myaeft thought he was a phantom of some funny brain which had lifted him bodily out of the laat Gaiety farce. But, no, the Hooley of tho • Shop Girl' and tbe Hooley of real life are not the same at all. I believe what floated fche lafcfcer fco fortune was the big 'bike boom.' Anyhow, he played a strong hand in promoting tbe Humber Cycle Company, and made £100.000 or so out of the deal. But this was child's play compared wifch the Bovril operation. Bovril, of course, is real good stuff. Still, fashion largely rules tbe taste and demand for these sort of things, and who can tell that some other discovery may not one of these days chase Bovril out of the market ? Anyhow, the Bovril Company did not feel justified in saying 'No' when Mr Ernest Hooley offered them bwo millions for their business. A few weeks later, however, they were not so pleased. Mr Hooley, without other help than lavish advertising, promoted a new company wibh three millions capibal, making half a million, lor himself ou _'6f the' transaction. Sinoe then be has become the financial hero and millionaire of the moment, and the Dubject of a dozen rumoura—true and untrue. As a guide to the latter the • Weatminster Gazette' sets forth :— Mr Hooley Up to Date.—What he Has Done, and What hk Has Not Done.