FOOD SHORTAGE IN MOSCOW.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XL, Issue 12727, 22 December 1915, Page 8

FOOD SHORTAGE IN MOSCOW.

There recently died in England an interesting personality—-Mr James Fox. father of Air James Fox. who has resided in South Invcrcardll for over forty years—at the uue of I JS. Mr Fox, sen., was a postbov "in Knglaud when "he country was finned for" its coaching inns and rumbling "stages," long before the,advent of-the locomotive ynd the motor car. The old gentleman's recollections of the clays when hi: rode a stage on the Dover road were always clear." notwithstanding the distance of~~timc, and most vividly could be recall the day upon which lie was "leader" bov to the coach wherein were seated Queen Victoria, the' Prince Consult, and the kite King lid ward, who was sean-e a vear old.

As a rule the coaches had four horses, Hi:: front pair of which was ridden by a leader boy and the hind pair by a wheel |boy, who' was more experienced than his 'mate. The Royal party were, going to Waiuicr Castle, 'and stopped at the .Dull to change horse.- and boys. "We- looked ■picity smart." the old iniur used to say when' describing this exper.ence. "Maybe we wanted to outshine ourselves, too: at anv rate we went too fast far then Roval' Hisdiucsses. We were coming dov.-i oi'.e "el the little hill.-- out of Darlford, when the wheel boy felt the check string on his arm give a tug. and he pulled up. Then a servant trotted up and ask«'d us to go more slowly. All aloin: Chatham Hill the crowds wer-s cheering, and the Queen held King Edward up to the window so that he might be seen,"

Another famous passenger -was the Duke of Wellington, who had a fixed scale of payment for the post-boys, no matter the length of the stage—five and ■sixpence'each—and h'e employed only two horses. There was a Rothschild who invariably travelled in a brilliantly-lighted coach in the middle of the liight. poring oyer papers. Another queer passenger was Lord Montagu, who rode in a stage coach, upon the roof of which was accommodated his own private band of musicians.

It was the construction of the railway from London into Kent that deprived Mr Fox uf his employment. After being employed in the dockyards for many years he retired on a pension in the eighties, and up to the time of his death nicer suffered a '\::v't illness.