In Romantic Days.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 15 April 1910, Page 4

In Romantic Days.

BANKING REM IN ISCENCES

Relaxing for once from the consideration of yravo matters of finance, thy Institute of Ba.nkers uvre by Mr Maherley JMiil--1 i[_>:-; (fi/inu'i'ly of Nett'iias'ilt , ) with a rhalty and anenlutal discourse on " Sidelights iiiul ItL'liiii!isfi.'itc-t'S of Hanking History." This is not the first lime .Mr Phillips Iras touchwl lightly upon tin , romantic .side of hanking in the old days, .allthough it was a new sluaf of maker that !u> (ii'alt with on t!iis oirasicu. He is the author of "Maiiks, Bankers, and Hiinkiing in Northumberland, Durham and North Yorkshire, , ' and is no stranger to banking circles in tho North.

A century ago, ho said, there Were ho pensions for bank clerks, i'/.id men remained at their posts "as Iwi.g .as tired nature would hold out," Mr Phillips recalled that lie had worked at :the stime time with a sou, his father, grandfather, and •Tonl-'.traii'dfiUlHM , : four uene.rations. At Xowcnfltle, in 18! M, lu« met Theophilil:; White, a pensioned clerk, who married ,\li,ss Shiiw, of Howes, the Fanny Squeerr. in "Xiehnhis Xicklcbv." Mrs Wh'ite. lu« said, was a bright litlle lady in no way like her portrait drawn by iho great, novelist.

Mr Phillips exhibited a iwiie issiiiml by tin' ITmldorsfiekl Hank for II w> s!iilli,ug«, and another by Hiu Ipswich Bank for one shilling. BeIcw this sum no genuine r.otes were ever is-:iu\l in England. In the early years of the century, th?re was n great scvirHty of .'•.ilv'er coins, and mnnuf'.'irtiirers nm:!e use of tl'.e Spanish dollar by conntermarking. It was often cut ii:it.:) quarters, until it was found that SMine genius was making five quarters out of his dollars. Speaking nf treasure trove. Mr Phillips recalled the [inding at Caibi idge-on-Tvne (>f a ring and 18 geld coins minted between the years Ml niKl :iS:i. Chims to the find were made owl behalf of the British Museum, and al.so of the Duke of Northumberland. Tn his dilemma, the Coroner deposited the treasure trove in a Newcastle bank, where they remain to this clnv.