A BENEFACTOR AND HIS REWARD.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXI, Issue 8770, 23 March 1907, Page 4

A BENEFACTOR AND HIS REWARD.

Some extraordinary evidence was given in the case, of -which we had a summary by cable, in which the ' Lieut. - Colonel of the King’s Colonials was sued for commission -j on a gift to the regimental funds. It appears that the plaintiff was clerk to the regiment, and Colonel Wallace’s private secretary. In August, 1903, the regiment was in financial difficulties, and the Colonel suggested to the plaintiff that it would be a good thing if some philanthropic gentleman would advance a suitable sum. The plaintiff said he knew someone who, he thought, would so oblige the regiment. Here the testimony conflicted. Plaintiff declared that Colonel Wallace mentioned recommendation to the Prince of Wales for a knighhood, and pro- ' raised him a commission of 5 per cent on the amount of the gift. The allegations were denied by Colonel Wallace, who, however, admitted that he might have said he would forward the benefactor’s name to the Colonel of the regiment for recognition, as it would be his duty to do so. Mr Horlick was the man plaintiff had £in view, and he paid, £SOOO to the regiment. Mr Horlick and Colonel Wallace met, and the , Colonel said in his evidence that he told him that he could not possibly expect a knighthood, but that his name would be put before the Colonel and the Prince of Wales. ‘Didn’t you tell Mr Horlick that he would get anything for his handsome donation?” ‘I might have told him that he might get a dcoration. ’ ’ ‘‘What decoration would you suggest?” ‘‘l got one myself—a C.M.G. I said I would put his name forward, and I did so, and he was made an honorary member of the regiment. ” Mr Horlick, it was alleged, said that if it came to a baronetcy lie was willing to advance a further sum of £IO,OOO, and buy a drill hall for the King’s Colonials. An extraordinary feature of the case was plaintiff’s admission that £SOO had been obtained by a solicitor from Mr Horlick for the introduction of Col. Wallace, of which lie (plaintiff) obtained £93 10s. The Lord Chief Justice remarked that it was monstrous to suggest that there was any custom by which persons who obtained gifts for benevolent purposes, were entitled to a commission, and that ‘‘ it should be shown that there was no such thing as trafficking in those honours, which were given only as a reward for merit. ’ ’ The jury found for defendant without leaving the box.