MILLIONAIRE'S GIFT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19128, 24 September 1936, Page 15

MILLIONAIRE'S GIFT

OFFICE BOY'S LUCK At the combined shipping companies' animal .smoke concert, in Wellington Mr. Andrew Fletcher proposed the toast of "The Shipping Companies," and in doing so told some stories of his early days, with a Glasgow firm, agents for J. D. Spreckles and Hms., of San Francisco. Young Fletcher was not very long in his job when his firm had! a- visit from Clans Spreckles, the- sugar millionaire, who made the nflico in Glasgow his headquarters for a couple of days. "On the second day he handed me a halr-'sovereign to send oil! a telegram," said; Mr. FTe'teher. "When 1 returned to the office Mr. Spreckles was not in, so that 1 could not giva him his change, and it was not till next Jay that 1 learned that he. had left for Liverpool on his return to America. 1 felt very uncomfortable jiliont holding on to his money, so 1 got, ;i money order and wrote' him a letter telling him I was sorry he was away before I. got back to the office. Some months later I received; a reply; he- made no reference to the money-order, tout apologised Jov only having 'given inc. half a sovereign to send a telegram, as. he had intended to give me a sovereign, and enclosing a 'five-dollar bill. 1 eaii assure you that this was appreciated. My salary was £lO per annum, paid in 12 monthly instalments of 16s Od.