THE SMITH MILLIONS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1236, 19 September 1911, Page 4

THE SMITH MILLIONS.

INTERESTING LETTERS. (By TeleKraph.-BDccial Correspondent.) Auckland, September 18. In view of tho lact that something of a. romanoe attaches to tho "Smith millions," it is interesting to read extracts from letters recently written by tho "Uli King" to Mr. W. Uay, of Auculand, and to Mrs. Clay, his mece. Replying to a letter written by Mr. Clay, relative to his chances of starting lilo as a colonist in Canada tho millionaire wrote from Strathray, Untario, as lollows::— "I scarcely tliinli I would advise you to come to this country as you aro now successiul, and as your wile has not been educated to tho requirements of a new country, and as no man can get together more wealth than his wile will allow, I hesitate to recommend you what course to take. I was in Saskatchewan in 1882 when it was only peopled by Indians. I took up lour homestead sections and bought a Canadian-Pacific railway section of 640 acres. I ploughed 147 'acres in ono year and there was no rain. My set it next year, and again no rain. My wife would not go out there, so I threw it up. A great many immigrants came into this country without capital, and I myself had only X 2 when I landed here. I came in a timber ship of 800 tons burden, and wo were six weeks crossing tho Atlantic and seven days copiing up tho couutry from yucbcc. Like yourself I am a mechanic, and I found it very handy when I wanted a few dollars to go back to civilisation and earn enough to help mo in my endeavour to will a homo in tho forest land. Tho best thing to do, I think, is to get leave of absence from the firm you aro with and come and jndgo for yourself what the opportunities aro in this country. 1 have a friend who has spent tho summer in tho West, and of all the provinces ho says Alberta is the best. II had thought of going to England, and could have met you, but at my time of life ("8) I thought it too much of an undertaking, a<d so I shall never see England again. If you come by way •of New York you could buy your ticket through this placo and I would bo pleased to see you. Wo could then talk over this great question of your future life." Even more interesting is the following! excerpt from a letter written by tho ogea millionaire to his niece, Mrs. Cla}', in which lie declares that all his riches did not recompense him for the loss of his dear wife:—

"My dear wife died ten years ago, and though I am surrounded by every blessing this financial world can give me, I. have never ceased to lament my groat loss. I have a beautiful homo here, tho produce of my own industry, A friend of mine was here on Saturday last and called my home paradise, but not to 1110 since the loss of my dear wife. I would God had taken everything from mo, had TIo left her, bi;t it was not to bo. But I live in hopes of a reunion in some time when there will be no moro narfing. I pray God will guide you in deciding the change (if it is to be), and that whntevo.r you decido to do will bo promoting vour happiness. Believe me, happiness does not exist so much in what we have, but. in what' we ore. With kind regards,— I am as ever rosnoetfully yours, "Richard D. Smith,"