ROMANCE OF RICHES.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 48, 26 February 1927, Page 28

ROMANCE OF RICHES.

FORTUNE AND TITLE FOR BOY OF SEVEN. A BUTCHER ANCESTOR. POMP AND LUXURY IN THE 'BUSH." A romantic chapter in the history of Australia in the old "colonial"' pioneering days wag recalled by the death at his villa at Monte Carlo of Sir Rupert Clarke, Australia's only baronet, whose family rose to wealth and great possessions from very small beginnings.

He was 01 years of age. and is succeeded by his elder son, Rupert William John, born in 1010. who thus becomes a titled millionaire at the age of seven.

The foundations of the Clarke fortune were laid by the lato baronet's grandfather, "Big Clarke."' an *Aldgate butcher who emigrated to Tasmania.

Dissatisfied with the outlook in that island, he moved to Melbourne, where,' with the luck of many pioneers, he bought for a small sum property which became worth a fortune after the discovery of gold. "Big Clarke" lelt to liis son William, the first baronet, an estate of more than 100,000 acres in the neighbourhood ot Sunbury, about 30 miles from Melbourne. Here was built, in ISTS, Australia's costliest country mansion—"Rupertswood"'—which, after the "feudal"' magnificence of the reign of S"y William, and the more severely practical enterprises of Russell Clarke, Sir Rupert's half-brother, is up for sale for the second time during the last five years. Friend of King Edward. "nupertswood" is claimed to have the nio?t wonderful fernery in the world, and its beautiful artificial lake, acres of flower and shrub gardens, and wide deer sanctuary, are perhaps without parallel in the Southern Hemisphere. In Sir William's time the vast stables housed stately carriage horses and hunters under the Russell Clarke regime they were transformed to cow barns.

Many stories are told of Sir William's princely generosity and lavish habits.

Chanties in England had reason to thank him for his large gifts daring a visit he paid to that country in the Wi when he became a close friend of King Edward VII., then Prince of Wales. He was an anlucky gambler, at cards and on the turf. When the first Melbourne Exhibition was runninjj, Sir William invited tome Americans to sjvnd a lew days with him at "Ruperts wood.'' On the railway jonrnev from Melbourne he lost £5000 at cards, while the train travelled S3 milcj. He never played cards again. "Sir William's Army."' His baronial estabiishmoni at "Rupertswood." with it* toores of retainers and display of almost medieval pomp, reached a climax of spiendour at the time of "he Russian scare, when Sir William raised .it enormous cost his own battery of artillerv Sergeant-Major Daley, a famous British drill master, was sent out from Kn;?land, a large drill hall was erected near the Kupertswood mansion, and here drilling was done every Tuesday and Thursday night and every Ssaturdav afternoon. Young aristocrats for manv miles around, representatives of fiftV wellknown Australian lamilies, joined **Nir William's Army'' :o serve under its

commander. Captain Hnghea, aide by with grooms, honse servants and undergardeners. Seren years of hard training produced a splendidly fit and efficient body of troops, and Sir William sent thirtv of the best of them to compete at the Islington and Dublin military tournaments. Honours were gained by the hardr men from "down under." Jock McKeon. the blacksmith at far-off Sunburv. received from Lord Wolseley the special gold medal awarded to the* best artillery driver, and Harry Tooney, now a veterinary surgeon at Sunbury. won manr honours until he was badly injured in a tent-pegging competition. Explorer and Leasee. Sir Rupert, who was the sivond baronet. maintain<-d the picturesque adventuring traditions of his familr. In the summer of 1914 he led an expedition to explore and prospect the territory along the banks of the River Fly, in British New Guinea. He reached a point 20 miles bevond the farthest limit of Sir William Maegregor's explorations of 1«90. and made the first asccnt by Europeans of Mount Donaldson. As lessee of the Melbourne Theatre Royal Sir Rupert was responsible for

the visit to Australia of 11, Aache and Mi« Lily Barton, mat?* the presentation of maav'other successes. *«b4O® H * twice married—first in ibb. x> Aimee Murray, daughter of the r!T T. C Cummmgs, of Victoria, who v tained a from hi m 3n IdCA . secondly to Elsie Florence Taril. daughter of Mr. .T. p. Tucker, of mother of the new baronet.