THE NELSON MEMORANDUM.

Otago Witness, Issue 2722, 16 May 1906, Page 9

THE NELSON MEMORANDUM.

FORMER OWNERSHIP BY THE FATHER OF A NEW ZEALANDER.

iFMOU Ot» OttX COKKESPONDHTT.) LONDON, March 30. It has just been officially announced that the trustees of the British Museum have decided not to purchase for the sum asked (£3600) tho memorandum "by Lord Nelson recently acquired at auction by Mr F. T. Sabin. To the general surprise of the public, it has been discovered that the former owner of the famous memorandum, is a driver on one of the suburban routes.

The representative of a London daily paper found "Old Will," or "Dad" as his mates call him, seated on his box, cheery in spite of the boisterous weather. He remarked : " I have only been 'bus-driving for five years. I have suffered many misfortunes, and lost nearly all I had at various times; so, although my people don't like to think I'm driving a 'bus, I am here for two reasons: it's an honest living, and it's healthy. It keeps mo in fine trim. How I came <o have the papers happened thus: My father was butler to Sir George Munday. one of Nelson's admirals. When he was dying he gave my father the memorandum and some other papers. Mv father had them for over 20 years, and 40 years ago he gave them to me. I have kept them, carefully ever since. I knew they were of value, though I ha<l no idea they were worth as much as they have since proved. " I thought, however, a short time back that I would try and sell them, and knowuvg Christie's to be a place where such things are sold, I went to the firm on my own initiative. I have only seen them about the papers, so that they have been in very few hands since Nelson's time. I'm not going to give up driving," he continued. " I love horse?. I have been with them all my life, but, motor 3 upset my business before, and if I were to start again I might lose my capita] again. The firm is very kind to me, and I don't want to leave. I've a son in New Zealand, and when he heard of my bad fortune he kept on askinor me to come to him. and he would pay my passage. I hope now fortune has smiled on me he will take a run Home and see me."

"Dad" was the subject this week-end of much soucl-natured chaff -from his brother whips, who are immensely gratified at his good luok- One grumbler. However, writes to the papers complaining Ditterlv t'nat "Old Will." after gaining £3600 so easily. should still keep to bis box instead of resigning this for the benefit cf someone else who may need tbe pay move. But the ex-owner of the Nel c on memorandum does not see the matter' in the same liffht. His motto is, " J'y suis ; j'v reste !" Ai'tl most people say. '' Quito right, too !" Ho is anxious that his name should not be published.

I The police at Timboon, in tbe Geelong district (Victoria), are apprehensive that a rabbit trapper named Stephens has met with foul play. Ho is alleged to have aroused the jealousy of some Indians, who J warned him to leave the place. He went, but afterwards returned, and has not been seen since. j Speaking to a Press representative at Cliristchurch a few days ago on the subject of mud volcanoes, Dr Wohlmann, I Government Balnpologisr, related an inI stance of how a resident of Rotorua was ! surprised one day to find one under his I drawing room floor. The general impression concerning Rotorua is that the earth's crust there is fairly thin, but one hardly expects to be waked up in the middle of the night by demonstrations of thermal activity in the bowels of the earth, immediately below one's bed. In this particular case the Rotorua citizen referred to . watered his garden too freely, and the moisture loosened the clay over a " hot spot," with the result that steam began to escape, and a mud volcano was soon active.