A MELBOURNE ROMANCE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume L, Issue 16619, 24 December 1924, Page 8

A MELBOURNE ROMANCE.

STORY OF A FORTUNE. SYDNEY, Dec. 11.. —Nearly ninelly years ago a Captain Howey selected'and purchased tor iJI2O a block of laind fronting on the Ynrra river in what, was then the Port Phillip district- of Now South Wales. That .block to-dav stands in the heart., of '-Melbourne.

During the week a descendant arrived from Berkshire, England, on the Ameri can liner Sierra to inherit- the property, which at a. conservative estimate is now valued at £1,500,000. When originally acquired the block was portion of a- Wild field within easy distance of a- creek running into the Yam.' Apparently the hardy ancient mariner of--nearly a. century ago did not lack foresight. The creek to-day is known as Elizabeth street, one of Melbourne's leading thoroughfares. The paddock is a. substantial block of palatial buildings bordered by Bwa.nston, Coil-ins. Elizabeth and Kourke streets. And the prize* pluiu of the paddock, is the Howey estate—better known us .Stewart- Dawson’s corner, which faces the Town Hall on one side, and has a frontage to Collins street on the other, lit recent years this property ha«' increased so greatly in value.that it.is now regarded as one of the most valuable city sites .south of the <-quolor. Tragedy and -romance arc- blended in its early history. Shortly alter making the original purchase (.'apt. Howey, with in's wife and seven children, were drowned when the verse! in which they were travel-lino for a trip- home- foundered in the Pacific—almost within sight of JSydnev Hearts.

The title- deeds concerning the inheritance were claimed and kept- a, close secret for many years. Wliat time Howey succeeded Howey and struggled to maintain families in their native Berkshire unaware that an estate and a. fortune left them by their nautical relative lay unclaimed in far away Australia. It was not until one member of the family decided to try his luck at the diggings that the secret was disclosed and the Howeys came into their own

Unlike bis ancestor, the present millionaire owner of the estate, Cwpt. .1. E. Howey, is a military man. During the war ho was one of Britain’s most daring flying aces in France and a- hussar who bunted the Turks and Arabs in Mesopotamia.. He is also a racing motorist (if note, having recently won the world's record for 10 miles at Brooklands, 'US.A., against allcomers. He accomplished the journey at the rate of 1171, miles an hour with a flying start.

After a brief visit Capj. Howey, who is accompanied by In's wife and brother, is returning to his native Berkshire.