The Barings.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6026, 25 March 1891, Page 3

The Barings.

■• It would be difficult; to find a parallel to such a sudden descent from immenso wealth to comparative poverty as that of the partners in the great firm of Baring Bros, and Co. Lord Revelstoke was building a splendid mansion in May fair which was to cost Ll()0,000, but has surrendered this as well as the rest of his property to his creditors, to be realised upon as among the assets of the firm. The' other brothers have dealt with their property in the same wny. iVlr Hod son, who was a silent partner only, and drew LB,OOO a year from bis share of fche profits of the business, had a magnificent place iv Kent, where the family had dwelt for three generations. This he has given over as it stands- house, furniture, works of art, and everything — to the liquidators, and finds himself beginning life again at an advanced age, at a salary of LIOO per year in the service of the revived limited company of Barings and Company. Another partner, Mr Steuart, father-in law to Herbert Ward of Stanley and Africa fame, had purchased one of the most palatial houses in Carl ton House terrace, and was spending L 150,000 in decorating and finishing it. The house was to have been occupied by him this spring, and a great house-warming was planned. He considers himself fortunate in 6nding a purchaser for it in the person of Mrs Mackay. Yet [ another member of the firm, Henry Bing- : ham Mildway, had a splendid house and ebtate in Kent, for which he has found a tenant for three years in Sir Henry James.

Civis in the Otago Witness saya : "My desire," earnestly protests Mr Ballance, is to see Sir George Grey returned nnopposcd to the Auckland seat." Knowing what we know thia is really very generous on his part. W hy, then, should an unbelieving Opposition wag its head, and pufc its finger to its uose and wink 1 Because, as Dr Watts observes of something else, li it is its nature to." What else can you expect from an Opposition ? It is a pleasure to turn to the Ministerial papers, breathing as they do nothing but admiration for the venerable statesman's abilities, perfect faith in his loyalty to true liberalism (i.e., the present Government), and tender, most tender, solicitude for his health. This last point, indeed outweighs everything else. Sir George Grey in the House would be a tower of strength. That awkward little episode in the Cabinet room has been forgiven and forgotten long long ago, aud Mr Ballance and he entertain towards one another feelings of the warmest affection and esteem. The statement that he would be a thorn in the side of the Government is a weak invention of the enemy. "It is a Liberal Government supported by a Liberal majority, and Sir Georgo is a Liberal of the Liberals, so ho would, of course, be one of its strongest supporters. " The prospect of his re-appearance in Parliament is therefore of itself a joy and delight to them. They yearn for it exceedingly. Or rather, to be «xact, they don't. They feel that way, but regard for his comfort won't permit it. Though his presence would would profit, them, they recogniso that his health is too precious, and withal too precarious to be exposed to the late hours and vile air of parliamentary debate. So they are ready — nay, anxious to do without him. Thus the Lyttelton Times, in English somewhat broken by emotion. The drain on his resources at this time of life— at this j>eriod of his life, which was nearly cut off the other day — is too greata price for New Zealand to pay for the advantages of his continued service in a representative capacity. On the whole, then and purely for his own sake, it is much to be regretted that Sir George should be " launched into the stormy seis of parliamentary strife." One can almost detect the tear that such noble self-sacrifice on the part of the Government must bring to the eye of the aged warrior. Tear, do I say — or — no— is it — can it be — a twinkle '( Lieutenant Stairs gives in the Nineteenth Century some amusing extracts from his diary during the year 1888, while he was shut up with Nelson and Parke: Here is an extract which conveys a vivid idea of the life which was led by thes» exiles in *' the forest primeval," where they were so long shut up :— "lt is very strange how one is forgetting all the tunes one ever knew ; all the ' airs ' of 'Patience ' have completely left us, and we only remember now such things as 'Bonnie Dundee, or old waltzes that we have hoard hundreds of times. ' Grandfather's Clock ' still re mains in all its original purity ; I doubt if fifty years would drivo that out of us. Our men are getting more restless day by day as the time goes on ; we are looking for Jephson and the Pasha to come, and then all of us will go on to the lake. How the Pasha will revol in the beetles and bugs about this place. There are enough to stock ten British Museums. In^the huts, too, there are selections to choose from, but perhaps not quite of the kind the Pasha would derive much amusement from. We constantly find ourselves talking to each other in Kiswahili ; being with the men all day and working with them encourages this, of course. All work is done in Suahili, but now and .then we would break out into English expressions to encourage the men. 'By the soul of the Prophet,' and 'By the shade of your grandfather's brother ' are but unsatisfactory expressions." Sleepless nights occurred now and then— " thinking of Emm, where Stanley and Jephson are, and the ammunition." There was nothing to do but get up and smoke. "Oh ! the comfort there is in smoking !" John Jacob Astor, who is soon to marry Miss Willing, of Philadelphia, is endowed with six feet of solid physique, an imperturbable fund of good nature, excellent health, and is hooked for an inherit mico that cannot fall short of L2(U>o(>,ooo. Lord Salisbury sh said to work fourteen hours a day, writing and reading dispatches *idd to this the time consumed iv social duties and he rarely gets more than four or five hours' sleep. The new house purchased in London by Mrs Mackay is one of the most palatial in the Kingdom. The marble staircase alone cost L 20,000, and all the rooms have been fitted up in the most magnificent manner.