A MISER'S END.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIV, Issue 56, 11 March 1910, Page 6

A MISER'S END.

LIVES ON SIX SHILLINGS A WEEK AND DIES WORTH

THOUSANDS

A. cable message published in New Zealand newspapers last week stated that Charles Phillips, an upholsterer, had died in London after living for many years at a cost of six shillings per week, and that he had left £3000 in cash, to which amount his relatives thought should be added Colonial property valued at £7000 more. A correspondent who knew Phillips well writes as follows to the Dunedin Star:—

This man lived and worked for many years in Dunedin at his trade. He was employed at one of the principal furniture warehouses here, his earnings amounting to about £3 12s a week. He existed upon the odd shillings, saving the sovereigns to provide for a rainy day,. He lived as a bachelor in a room off Maclaggan Street, somewhere about where Pavletich's Hotel was. Rents were cheap in those days, and his food did not cost much. He went to his work in the morning without breakfast, and would sent out one of the boys for a pennyworth of broken biscuits, and with milk for another coin would make a frugal meal. A suit of clothes would last for some years, as he had an old cardigan jacket to keep out the cold.

He always looked very miserable, through the craze for money growing on him. About the year 1880 he started back for his old haunts in London, and evidently had lived in the same wretched style ever since.

His age at death would be nearly eighty years. Ido not think he left any property in New Zealand—he was too fond of hoarding cash.