NEW YEAR'S WINDFALL

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 5, 6 January 1920, Page 4

NEW YEAR'S WINDFALL

A LTJCKX AUCELAHSER. CHEQUE FOR £ 3,000. WITH MORE TO FOLLOW. Tattersall's is not the sole repository of romances of fortune, even in these prosaic days when money mostly comes from the sweat of the brow. This New Year has gladdened the hearts of one Auckland family and has elevated it from the position of, if not exactly "on the rockß," at all events of frequent financial stringency, to one of comparative opulence. The name may be withheld because the story has more or less intimate details connected with it. Suffice it to say that the central figure in the romance was a family man, who in these days of high cost of living had found the last two or three months particularly trying from a financial point of view, so much so that his wife had helped to eke out the family purse by acting as cook to a suburban home. During the holidays he was advised by one of the local' banks that a draft awaited him at the office and, on making inquiries, found that £3000 bad been in the custody of the bank for sa months, but owing to frequent changes of address it had not been possible to trace the owner. It appeared that the father of the man had recently died in England, and had left a fortune of £60,000 to be divided between the son in New Zealand and three other members of the family. The £3000 was merely an instalment on account of the immediately available securities, and his further share would be forthcoming in due course. Curiously enough, the fortune which had provided him with such a handsome New Year's gift had its origin in New Zealand. It was made by the father in St. Helena from the successful development of phormium plantations —the flax having been imported originally from New Zealand. The plant was found to flourish exceedingly in the Atlantic island, and the industry was developed to such advantage by the rather that ultimately he' was enabled to refire and live in England on the proceeds. The son in question emigrated to New Zealand a few years ago, and, although he was aware that some day he might be better off by reason of his father's labours, he had been out of touch with the family for some time, and the legacy came unexpectedly.