SHOWER OF GOLD.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18541, 11 April 1930, Page 13

SHOWER OF GOLD.

“ COPPER KING’S ’ MILLIONS. . NEW ZEALAND'S SHARE. By Telegraph—Press Association. BLENHEIM. April 10. In reference to a telegram recently announcing the good fortune of Jack Watson, of Springston, Canterbury, who is stated to have inherited £60,000 from a long-dead American uncle, it is interesting to note that Mr Watson was formerly a resident of Blenheim, and he was employed ior a number of years in the Wairau apple orchards. More recently he has been conducting with success a small itinerant drapery business in the Canterbury country district. The £60,000 is but a small amount of the enormous fortune of nineteen millions, which is about to deluge his relatives with gold, and the story reads like a romance. Many years ago John Andrews left Ireland as a young man with the avowed object of making a fortune, and he made it with a vengeance, for he became known as “The Copper King.” He died 17 years ago, leaving behind him between 15 and 19 million pounds. He was unmarried, and had no apparent relatives, so the American Government took possession of the money in trust. Three years ago a claim made by a nephew in Glasgow was recognised by the American Government, which undertook to pay over the money in yearly instalments. The Glasgow claimant’s family tree showed that John Andrews died leaving 17 nephews and nieces, among whom the money is being divided equally. One of the nephews was Mr Watson’s father, but he has died, leaving his share, worth about £IOO,OOO or more, to his widow, Mr Watson’s mother. One of Watson senior’s sisters, and aunt of Mr Jack Watson, also died, leaving no will, so that half her million goes to her sister, and the other half million is being divided among her next-of-kin, Mr Watson and his brothers and sisters, in the ratio of £60,000 each. Jack Watson’s father was a cousin of the late Mr W. H. Atkinson, of Hillersden, who died suddenly in church in May last. Whether Mr Atkinson’s family will secure a share of the wealth which is floating about is not yet quite clear, though there seems every possibility that they will have a claim. The family are Messrs Atkinson Bros., of Wairau Valley; Mrs Buschl, of Springlands, and Mrs I. W. Barton, of Leefield.