MEN AND MILLIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17711, 23 August 1919, Page 10

MEN AND MILLIONS

THE M'CAUGHEY FORTUNE.

HORDERN MILLIONS LEAD

John Stuart Mill, the political economist, declared that the wealth, of a nation was the reflex of its energy and industry. This precept (says the Sydney Sun) is applicable to many of the great pioneers of Australia—men who have surmounted all difficulties, and havo risen to be cap-, tains of the pastoral, commercial, and other industries. By indomitable energy these men of grit and stamina lived to experience the gratification of being placcd amongst the leaders of the Australian Commonwealth.

Australia, unlike the U.S.A., cannot boast of serried ranks of millionaires. Much more difficult it is in this young continent to amass tho wealth of a millionaire than it is in America, with its 103.000,000 people and its infinite money-making avenues. MANY WEALTHY MEN. New South Wales statistics disclose that she is the wealthiest of the States of the Australian union, and that she possesses many wealthy men, but few millionaires. Amongst these phenomena must be included the late Sir Samuel M'Caughey, who, it is said, has left a net estate of at least £2,000,000. Hero was a man who had carved out his own fortune in this great southern land because he possessed that energy which Mill speaks of as the reflex of a nation. In tho making of this £2,000,000 and all which he gave away in his lifetime. Sir Samuel M'Caughey amassed it in no miserly sense. That huge fortune represents more than the mere wealth of the great sheepbreeder. It represents the measure of the impetus his energy and industry gave to the pastoral pursuits, not only' of New South Wales, but the commonwealth of Australia. Sir Samuel's munificence as a benefactor, national and individual, need not be expatiated upon here. I-lORDERN MILLIONS. Although the shepherd Icing amassed £2,000,000 and more, still that colossal fortune recedes 'by almost £1,000,000 in comparison with that of another great New South Wales magnate—not pastoral, commercial—the late Mr Samuel Hordern, the father of the young knight, Sir Samuel Hordern. Mr Hordern, whose capacity and industry left the firm of Anthony Hordern and Sons one of the richest and foremost in any part of tho globe, died o-n 13th August, 1909, leaving a net fortune of £2,925.924 HALL MILLIONS. Tho estate of tho late Mr Walter Ilall, the Potts Point millionaire, fell short of thn,t of Mr Samuel Hordern by £600,C0O — £2,309.957 —and his widow, Eliza Rowdon Hall, who died on 14th February, 1916, at Potts Point, left an estate valued for pro® bate purposes at £302,443. Many and largo were the benefactions of husband and wife.

"JIMMY" TYSON'S WEALTH. Long before James Tyson died in Queensland in 1899 there was a belief amongst the pastoralists of the commonwealth that "Jimmy" was thrice a millionaire. He didn't make a will," and furnished the pretext for considerable litigation by claimants.

His New South Wales estate was valued at £560,113, but his pastoral and other interests throughout the commonwealth were estimated as, at least another £1,500,000. Another Australian who amassed a, huge fortune was Sir Robert Lucas-Tooth, who represented Monaro in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly many years ago. Ho died on February 19, 1916, in England, where he . had a magnificent estate. The New South Wales portion of his estate was sworn at £905,000, and his English estate at £276,000. He had been m England since 1883, but the bulk of Ilia wealth was accumulated in commercial pursuits in New South Wales. Sir James Reading Fairfax, senior proprietor of the Sydney Morning Herald, was lonj: reputed to bo an Australian millionaire. Ho died a few months ago, and' the gross estate was then before the Probate Office at £587,897. The name of Dangar is also synonymous with wealth, and when Mr A. A. Dan gar, M.L.0., who owned Baroona and other station properties in the commonwealth, died, it was anticipated that ho would take his place amongst the select few Australian pastoralist millionaires, but those who made predictions were in error. He died on April 5, 1913, and left estate valued at £304,946. Olive Colllng-wood Dangar died during the war, sitd 1113 estate was sworn at £331,167. He, too, was a pastoralist. MR JAMES M'MAHON. Another well-known man, reputed to have been a millionaire, was the late James M'Mahon, who died a few years ago. He was the founder of tlio firm of M'Mahon and Co., carriers. Mr M'Mahon failed to reach the million mark, but got half-way, his estate being sworn at something over £500,000. It i 3 not always men who accumulate large fortunes, as instanced by the will of Mrs K. S. Smith, of Double Bay. Sho died on May 9 last, and left an estate valued at £191,000. THEATRICAL MAGNATES. Many people were prone to string millions around the name of the late Mr James Cassius Williamson, but he had to disappoint their expectations with a modest £193,000. He died on July 6, 1913. In a like manner the late Mr Harry Riokards (Benjamin Henry Leete) was credited with the wealth of a Croesus, but had to disappoint them. His estate was 1911° C ' Ho died on October 13, TWO "KINGS."

John Brown, the "Coal King," and Sydnev Kidman, the "Cattle King"," wear the halo of Australian millionaires, but their strides will have to be and strong to the Hordern millions and tho M'Caughey millions.