A THRIFTY MILLIONAIRF

Otago Witness, 5 December 1900, Page 38

A THRIFTY MILLIONAIRF

THE LATE JAMES TYSON'S METHODS. At the hearing at Brisbane of the action by the Government against the Queensland Trustees (Limited) for succession duty in the estate of the late Mr James Tyson, Henry Daniels, of Camboya, said" that Mr Tyson regarded Felton station, as his home. On one occasion Mr Tyson informed witness that the previous owner of Felton had lived beyond his income, and borrowed money from him, and then " went travelling on the Continent with Lord this and Lord that, and Lord knows who." As a consequence, he could not pay interest on the loan, and Mr Tyson gave him £30,000 or £40,000 more to. clear out altogether. About two years before his death. Mr Tyson said to witness, " I am very lonely. I have never injured man knowingly in -my life. I am over 70 years of age, and have not a friend in the world. I have any amount of relations, and T believe they want to know when I'll die, so that they can gel my money." Witness said, " You may be wronging them. I don't believe they are all that way, for T know some of them myself." Mr Tyson answered, " Well, it may be so, but_ I feel the only real friend is here (patting his trousers pocket). Witness once a3ked Mr Tyaon how lie managed to. -keep a grasp of his affairs, and he replied that it was the easiest thinsj in the world. He explained that he made the bank managers do his bookkeeping and keep an account -of all his transactions 1 ."

Witness told how on one occasion Mr Tyson, "to save exchange, drew £80,000 in sovereigns from the Bank of New South. Wale<? and brought it to Queensland ■with him by boat. He drew £25 a month for persona] expenses, and once complained to witness that he had been extravagant, inasmuch as he had drawn £20 over that allowance.

Joseph Stirling, blacksmith, in the course o£ his evidence., said he, at the request o£ Mr Tvson. once , visited Felton. Mr Tyson was absent, and the only occupants of. -the homestead were a girl, an old woman of 80, who 'acted as cook, and a cat. He was not afterwards surprised to learn that the girl drowned herself. The place was enough to send one melancholy mad. When witness mentioned the visit to Mr Tyson the latter said gleefully, " Oh, I keep nothing on my establishment that does not earn its rations. Every dog has its own beat. If it has not, Jame<s Tyson must know the reason why."' Witness stated tbat he frequently succeeded in " bleeding " Mr Tyson for subscriptions to military tournaments, churches, schools, etc., but ha would never allow bis name to aEpea*.