THE PORTLAND HERITAGE.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12969, 23 November 1907, Page 9

THE PORTLAND HERITAGE.

* INTERESTING LOCAL DEVELOPMENT. POSSIBLE NEW ZEALAND CLAIMANT. A New York cable message, published in Thuredays issue of '"The Press, stated that a Mr Calkin, a merchant at Millville, New Jersey, had made a claim for the Portland estates. According to tho New York papers, he 'claimed to bo a descendant of the first Duke's eldest son, who settled i m America at th© beginning of last century. The mystery popularly known as 'The Drue© Case" has lately been brought prominently before tho public by means of tho Court proceedings in England, at which evidenco of a most sensational character has l>eon given. The problem of the rightful succession to tho ©states is not ono of merely recent growth—for many years it has excited and sustained public interest in a very marked degree. Tlie announcement that tliere was a | now claimant in the field in the per- | son ot Mr Calkin will arouise puoiic interest in New Zealand ironi the fact that in the Dominion ther© is residing, with his tamiiy, an eider brotiier or the new aspirant lor the honours oi heirship. . Tlio cablo message stating the claim advanced by Mr Calkin attracted tho notice of a resident of Christchurch, who is on trioiidly terms with Mr Percival Charles Calkin, a bootmaker, whose premises are in Gloucester street. The nam© is an uncommon one. and as a matter of curiosity th© gentleman brought tho cablegram under th© notice of Mr Calkin, with an enquiry Avhether ther© was any relationship. "Why" Mr Calkin replied in astonishment "the man is my uncle!" and to back up his statement h© produced his notebook in the flylonf of which there was typed the address, "William Calkin, Cumberland County. Millville. Now Jersey, U.S.A. In tho courso of an interview with a "Press" reporter, Mr Calkin stated that his father, Mr Samuel Richard Cnlkin, who is til years of ago, is now residing in Cameron street, \\ hangaiei, where he is proprietor of a coffee palace. Prior to coming to New Zealand ho had had an adventurous career, and took part in the American Civil' War. He cam© out to New Zealand in a whaler very many years ago, landing first at Russell. He followed the teaching profession lor fourteen years, and had. charge of schools at" Mungakawhia and Timorc. Ultimately ho decided to settle at Whangarei; and h© has lived ther© for some years past. He has a family of five daughters and three sons, tho eldest of tho family being Mr Pierre Hnyward Calkin, who is also in business in Whangarei. Mr Calkin stated that his father had corresponded with their American relative, Mr William Calkin, who was a wealthy merchant, and owner of a lar,sr© glass-blowing establishment. The latter had never, as far as our informant knew, mentioned th© subject of his claim in his letters. Tho actual relationship of Samuel Calkin to William Calkin is that of half-brother, the latter being the eon of a second wife. If William's olaim. therefore, were mad© by virtu© of his on., the male side, the claim of Samuel would have undoubted priority. An elder brother, Mr John Baptist Calkin, who achieved some fafne as a composer of sacred music, died two years ago, and it is believed that th© two half-brothers aro th© only othem of th© Calkin family of their genera--tion who survive. As to the actual basis of the claim, Mr Oalkin has, of course, absolutely no information. Mr Calkin is communicating with his father and members'of tho family with the object of ascertaining whether any information is available that would justify steps being taken to have them represented- at any enquiry that may bo mad© regarding William Calkin's claims. His father, he said, had not often discussed his relatives, but ho had af times mado observations which wero accepted as jocular, but- which, in th© light of tho n©w development, may have indicated the possession of "insid© information.*' A favourite observation of his. when correcting tho unruly of his fnmily, was: "Wo are descended from a Duke, so let us behave ourselves as noblemen should." Mr Percival Calkin, who is tho second son of Mr Samuel Calkin, was born in Auckland! province, and is 32 years of age. His father is a violinist of no mean ability, and Mr Calkin appears to have inherited a lovo for music Prior to leaving tho North _?_.*,. he was lead<!r of the Whangarei Philharmonic Society's orchestra and the local brays band, and at ono time he was instructor of tho toys' band at tho Burnham Industrial School, where he earned the reputation of being an excellent teacher and a most accomplished' player. As to th© new interest that has entered his life j lB is not unduly sanguine, but he is'dispeced to make such enquiries as will settle the matter, as far as his family are concerned, one© and for all

(SPECIAL TO "TUB rUESS.") AUCKLAND, November 22 Samuel Richard Calkin, claimant in the Druce case, is a boardinghou3e-kec-per at Whangarei. He sajt* his father was uamed Samuel Calkin, and worked as a guard on the Great Western Railway in Engjand for a long time. Afterwards h© went to America and engaged in the fur trade. Tho | claimant was brought up by his grandl parents in the parish of St. Pancras, London. Ho is the eldest son in. a family of three—two boys and a girl. When he last heard of his sister she waa in a convent. His brother is in New Jersey. Th© claimant cannot state what proofs of claim he has. Ho says that ho had not thought of th© matter until he saw a statement in th© newspapers recently. Ho thinks that his brother must havo moved in tho matter.