NEWS BY MAIL.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 July 1920, Page 1

NEWS BY MAIL.

THE EX-KAISER’S MILLIONS

LEGAL FIGHT WITH REICHSTAG

BERLIN, May 14

A great topic of discussion in parliamentary circles is the fate of the exKaiser’s millions. The Nationalists assert that it would indicate fear if the money were not handed over. The Socialists, on tho other hand, repeatedly suggest that the greater part of tho cxKmperor’s fortune should go to the widows and orphans of the war. “ Let the Holienzollern family earn their living by the sweat of their brow,” they say. “ Every Holienzollern is taught a trade.” A new feature is added to the dispute every day. Palaces, plate, linen, jewellery, and 40 castles in the country are involved. At a recent sale property beionging to the ex-Kaiser realised more than £2,000,000, and is is estimated that the remaining property of the Jiohenzollcrns in Berlin alone, amounts to 200,000,000 marks (nominally £lO,000,000).

“ This belongs to me,” says the oxlyaiser, in effect. ”It belongs to the State,” thunder the Socialists; and as soon as the ownership of, say the palace linen is settled, another little matter crops up involving about £IOO,OOO worth of china.

When the ex-Kaiser’s great-grand-father, Frederick William 111, died, lie left not more than about £40,000 a year in trust for the Hohenzollerns. During ■'iis lifetime he managed to rub along on ,£300.000 a year, which is considerably less than half the sum his great-grandson received as King of Prussia.

The ex-Kaiser was notoriously extravagant. He began on a “ salary ”of £BOO,OOO, in addition to which there was tho CIO,OOO a year from tho greatgrandfather’s trust fund. His private income amounted to £200,000, and shortly before the war the Reichstag fa run red him with a further sum which brought his yearly income well above a million sterling. When the ex-Kaiser’s lawyers first submitted their client’s claims to the Hoieli.stag the demands made were partly recognised. Since then the Socialist PaVty have accused the ex-Kaiser of wishing to embarrass the State, and they have raised the question of the origin of the millions of marks which the fallen ruler claims to be his.

A Bill is shortly to be brought up in the Reichstag, but, in face of the Socialist Party’s question, “ Where do the exlvniser’s millions come from?” its fate is in the balance. k KX-KA [SKIPS FURNITURE. NEW YORK, May 15. The ex-Kaiser’s debt to the German people is to be liquidated in part by tbe sale bore by auction on Saturday week of part of the household furnishings of the Ilohenzollern palace at Potsdam. The sale, which is being widely advertised, takes place at the Madison Avenue Art Gallery, and the articles offered include portieres, draperies, music boxes, chandeliers, lamps, urns, ivories, clocks, curio cabinets, Oriental prayer rugs, and perior furniture. Many articles bear the imperial crest of their former owner. The collection was brought to the United States by Mr Vaklemar Povclsen, a Danisli-American importer who .was attached to the American Army of Occupation in Berlin, and obtained a permit to export upon the promise that the proceeds of the sale shall be used to purchase foodstuffs for sale in Germany. DEAD HAND ON RICHES. FOR RELEASE OF MARSHALL FIELD FORTUNE. NEW YORK, May 14. The practice of certain American multi-millionaires in controlling their estates many years after their death is attacked by Mr Elibti Root, chief counsel for Captain Marshall Field, grandson of the late Marshall ' Field, of Chicago, who is seeking through the courts to obtain immediate possession of his grandfather’s estate, estimated at £20,000,000.

Under the provisions of the elder Field’s will the residuary portion of the estate is placed “ in trust” until Captain Marshall Field and his brother Henry are 50. Henry Field being dead, his brother Marshall seeks to have the provision construed to permit his immediate participation in the enjoyment of the estate.

Marshall Field’s provision violates the principles of public policy, Colonel Clark declared, and such accumulations could not be favoured by the law. It is estimated that should the -residuary estate be kept intact until the surviving legatee is 50 the principal will have reached £200,000,000.

COURTSHIP BY POST. COUPLE AGREE TO MARRY WITHOUT HAVING MET. LONDON, May 14. A courtship between a Mansfield woman and a New Zealand man who had. never seen each other before last week ended in their wedding yesterday. Many years ago Mr William Hebden, of Auckland, New Zealand, married a cousin of Miss Emma Lucy Cash, of Mansfield. Mr Hebden 5 s four sons came over to fight during the war and spent their different periods of leave at Mansfield, thus renewing old ties between tho two families. After their return home their mother died, and Mr Hebden later opened up correspondence with -'Liss Cash. They agreed by letter to mnrrv _