THE PORTLAND ESTATES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2049, 28 November 1907, Page 3

THE PORTLAND ESTATES.

A OiIItISTCHUR OH WITNESS. SOME LOCAL DETAILS. Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 27. During the course of the mysterious Druce case, an important witness, who had been specially brought from New Zealand to give evidence, was mentioned as having come from Christchurch, where she resided for some time. This was a lady who in the cable mess-age is called Miss Robinson, hut who was known here as Mrs. A. Robinson. -The lady also whilst hero bad a daughter of some 20 summers living with her. Mrs. Robinson is described, as a lady of from 55 to 60, extremely excitable in manner, who by some people was considered rather eccentric. From ■inquiries made it appeal’s that in May, 1903, she was keeping a boardingdiouse in Monitrea'l-street, Christchurch. In September of that year Mrs. Robinson moved to Jiamesstreet, New Brighton, and in February, 1906, a fire took place in the house, whereby which it was totally destroyed. The furniture of the house was described as being of a kind not able to bo bought here, being evidently very old, and there were also a number of curios. Among these latter was an antique oandeiaihrium, which Mrs. Robinson stated was obtained from a cathedral in Spain. There was also a very valuable . and extensive collection of old Derby china. With regard to the candelabrium, china, and curios, two conflicting statements ure attributed to Mrs. Robinson. One of these was they were given to her by her son, who was an engineer on board a foreign-going steamer, and who had a taste for picking ill) curios, cite., at the various foreign ports visited by him. Another version told by Mrs. Robinson was that her husband had been .butler in the service of a. nobleman’s family, and that when he left to take a publichouse the curios, china, etc., were presented to them. This was shortly before Mrs. Robinson and her daughter left for New Zealand. lit is interesting to note that at the time of the fire, when as lias been stated •everything in the house was totally destroyed, there. wUs no reference to the valuables which Mrs. Robinson testified in tlie Court at Home aiic bad lost. After tlie fire Mrs. Robinson and her daughter lived in lodgings for some little time. In April, 1906, they took a house in Ealsegrave-street. Here they resided till February, 1907, when they left for England, in order that Mrs. Robinson's evidence in the sensational case, involving tfho Dukedom of Portland, might be taken.