FORTUNES IN FOOD.

Western Star, Issue 2178, 9 February 1898, Page 2

FORTUNES IN FOOD.

All colonists travelling from London to tbe West of England must have noticed as the express ran through Reading the tall chimneys and huge blocks of buildings which mark the mammoth biscuit factories of Huntley and Palmer. They. are the feature par excellence of the capital of Berkshire, and with tbe leviathah nursery gardens of tbe almost equsßy well-known Sutton and Sons, raised it in 50 years from the level of an obscure country town to that of prosperous manufacturing centre. Three decades ago the writer was at school at Oakley House, Reading, which stood in close proximity to Huntley and Palmer’s, When the wind was in certain directions tantalising smells of delicious baking , biscuits filled the play-ground, and made us boys wish that, like Esau, we could sell our birthright foi? a bellyful. Occasionally, armed witii a permit obtained by the head-master from Mr George Palmer, wo even led august visitors from London into the great, factory itself, and spends. delightful hour inspecting the ingenious machinery and nibbling unceasingly the richest of dessert cakelets. There were about fifty boarders House. We thought superior so’t of boys, but none of the fellows of my time have made much of a show in the world. The exception was a grubby little lad with an incurable affection for newts, snaiis, worms and insects He enjoyed few games, but wandered around the cricket field *with a butterfly net, a pair of tweezers, a pin and a piece of cork. His desk contained indescribable smelly abominations. A whiff of it often blighted the entire room. But our pedagogue a wise man, and interfered no more than was necessary with the youngster’s pursuits. That boy is to day Professor Edward Ponlton, of Oxford, one of the greatest of living na'nral scientists and biologists, and an unrivalled authority in his special line. He belonged to Reading and in due course married Mr George Palmer’s daughter. When Mr Palmer died the other day he left a splendid estate at Marlbury and all but a million in cash. Professor Poulton’s children inherit most of it. The £964,3£7 left by George Palmer is the largest fortune ever made out of food stuffs. The nearest approach to it in the bakery business is that of Mr Thos. Stone’ (of Peek, Frean and Co.), whose £339,487 was also made out of biscuits. A member of the same firm (Mr Ralph E. Stone) had a personalty of £228,964 in the present year. Mr Nevill, the biggest of the London bakers, had amassed £283,256 when he died, and Mr George Berwick, the manufacturer of baking powder, L 259,740. Chief among the flourmillers stands the £238,000 of Mr Charles Thompson, Cardiff, Two Liverpool flour and rice millers (Mr Edward Hutchinson and Mr Irving) have within recent years enriched the Treasury bv death dues on £2(1,708 and £124,804 respectively. Bigger fortunes than these have been left in other departments of food production. Mr J D Perrins, of , the firm of Lea and Perrins, owned an estate of £714,431, and Mr W J Belville, one of the owners of Keen’s mustard, one of £638,000. Mr John J Mason, pf Brand’s Essence of Beef celebrity) this year disposed by will of a personalty of £151,811.