DAME MELBA’S WILL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 10 April 1931, Page 5

DAME MELBA’S WILL.

MANY BENEFICIARIES,

ME'LBOURNE, 'Thursday

Though the cumulative value of the late Dame Nellie Melba’s property will not be known for many months, its approximate value is £200,000. The Victorian portion is worth £IO,OOO, and the American portion at least £IOO,OOO. The diva also owned considerable residential property in Sydney. During the war, however, she suffered heavy losses in foreign securities. Her son, Mv George Armstrong, aud his wife and daughter Pamela, are residuary beneficiaries, while fin annuity of £2o(J is provided for the diva*s lifelong friend, Mr John Leminonc, the noted flautist.

Pamela Armstrong receives the late Dame Nellie Melba’s-priceless jewels, which were gifts from crowned heads' of Europe during Melba’s heyday; also a little brooch of pearls and rubies presumed t° Melba ’by Queen Yj&tori&_ H'osts’of relatives, ffi.Oluls and faithful servants, rich and poor, bellCfit under the will. Valuable antiques, pictures and art collections arc to be sold to provide the numerous legacies, of which £IOOO has been bcq&pathed to Mrs Annie Purchas, of Eemuera road, Auckland, and Frank and Lucy Purchas, each £2OOO. Another bequest of £BOOO goes to the Melbourne Conscrvatorium of Music to provide a Melba Scholarship,.the testatrix expressing the hope tha,,t another Melba may aise.