A Wealthy Hermit.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 4, Issue 121, 28 April 1883, Page 3

A Wealthy Hermit.

[Exchange.] M Mr Costley, whose munificent charitable bequests were notified recently m our Auckland telegrams, was one of the very early settlers m Auckland, and, was always noted for his peculiar; eccentricities. In former years, when Auckland consisted only of a few scattered houses, Mr Costley cultivated a primitive little market garden m what is now the heart ef Auckland city. In the middle of tMs garden plot — an object of "mystery and wonder to all the little children of the .period— stood an odd-looking sort of hutch built of birch Bapling poles, closely tied pn either side of;'a ridge pole, and held m place at the lower end by a neatly-laid bank of turfs. The middle of the mansion was about high enough to enable the dweller, who was |rat short m stature, to stand up« right) and on each side was a ; sort of locker, formed m the. same manner as the hut, and covered with a plank. , One of these comprised the old gentleman's table) dresser, and safe, &c., while the other Held his blankets, and was his bedstead by night andjseat by day. Here this eccentric person,, who was always reputed to be 1 very wealthy, lived for many years— in fact, until he. was built in?by, the encroaching town. And here, he sold, to those who chose to go to bitp£ mode&t pennyworths o! turnips, cabbage, &c., and stowed away all his accumulation of findings m the way of empty sardine tins, iron hoops, and kindred treasure.