A LIFE OF LAVISH GENEROSITY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 24, 22 July 1911, Page 2 (Supplement)

A LIFE OF LAVISH GENEROSITY.

A life of many changes ended at Grimsby in May when Robert Day Melhuish, once the port's principal fish merchant, died a pauper in the workhouse. Going to Grimsby a poor lad, Mr. Melhuish, by htird work and energy, won for himself a unique position in the fishing industry, at that time undergoing a revolution consequent upon the advent of steam trawling. He created the biggest private business in the industry and amassed a great fortune, but success destroyed his balance. He spent money as fast as he earned it. His generosity was lavish and reckless. He gave big sums to every form of charity. Often he would send his carts laden with choice fish to the poorer parts of the town, where his men distributed the contents broadcast. His popularity was in consequence amazing, and he was regarded with the wildest admiration. When he was nominated for election on the School Board he headed the poll with a majority of 0000 over his nearest opponent, and after the declaration he was dragged round the town in a landau by scores of men, preceded by a band of music and followed by thousands of excited, cheering men and women. In after years he was unfortunate to fall upon adversity and became an inmate of the workhouse. His friends of former times took him from the union and found him a cottage in the country in which to end his days, but habit was too strong for the self-willed, pleasure-loving old fellow, and he drifted back to the workhouse, where he died.