A ROMANCE.

Feilding Star, Volume III, Issue 831, 18 March 1909, Page 2

A ROMANCE.

POVERTY AN!) WEALTH HAND-IN-HAND. Considerable interest has been aroused m the ease of tho old man Donald Watt, who was found dead in his hut near the Cement Works on Friday. The deceased (the Otago Daily Times learns) was a native, of Ihurso, in the shire of Caithness, Scotland. He started work in a rjuarry when 11 years of age, earning 13 s a week. Subsequently he be- , eamo foreman for a road contractor, | receiving the munificent sum of 15s a j week. H<> emigrated to New Zealand as far back as 1862, and, being ener- ( getic, resourceful, and thrifty, made a considerable sum of money at conI tract fencing. In 1875 he paid a visit , to his native land, but soon returned .' to New Zealand. His money has been on fixed deposit at a fair rate of inter- , est ever since, so that at tho time of his death ho was rapidly becoming a wealthy man. Some time ago he was employed as night watchman at the ( Cement Works, and it was then he occupied the hut in which he died, but he relinquished work years ago, because he did not wish "to keep an- | other man out" of a job." He was of a generous disposition, and has frequently given to local charities, while only last Christmas he sent Home two sums of £10 to two aged cousns. His mode of life was simple in the extreme. He had, however, ' been brought ujp in the plain — almost rigorous — fashion typical of his birthplace, and, though he deprived himself of all necessaries, his wants, owing to his frugal habits, were few. Among his effects were found hank deposit receipts for £6685 and a sum of £23 in cash. Th© bulk of this money, will be divided betwee nhis two agea cousir.s — an old man and an old worn in in poor circumstances — living' in ThurEo; and an old friend in DunoJin. whj used to sit and play cards with him at night, has been surprised lo learn that he is to benefit uniir the will to the extent of £250. Tho executor of the will is a well-known aii 1 rr-spected resident in Dunedin.