SPIERS AND DICKENS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3172, 29 August 1881, Page 4

SPIERS AND DICKENS.

The late Wr Christopher Pond, of the well-kno -au London firm of Spiers and Pond, was for many years a residentof Melbourne, where he was -well known in conjunction with his partner, Mr Spiers, as the founder Of the cafe de Paris. He was continually embarking in large enterprises, among which was one which, unfortunately, was never carried into effect. The firm offered the late Charles Dickens the sum of £10,000 orer and above his travelling expenses and maintenance, for a twelvemonths' reading tour through the Australian colonies. The gentleman through whom tho offer was tnarle pressed upon the novelist tho advantages which would accrue to his overwrought system from the perfect rest of a six or eight weeks' voyage, and pointed out what a rich and unworked field for the observation and study of character Australia would present to him ; hut Dickens shrank from the undertaking, while thanking Messrs Spiers and Pond for their offer, dwelt upon the large sums he was making by his readings in England, and incidentally mentioned that by announcing one at any time in St. Greorge's Hall, Liverpool, he could be sure of netting £300. Mr Spiers subsequently waited upon the novelist in London and renewed the offer, but with the same unsatisfactory result.