HEIR TO £1,500,000.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 January 1925, Page 4

HEIR TO £1,500,000.

TIM ARE RESIDENT PROVES. CLAIM. A ECKI.AN I), December 30. Further particulars concerning the

' fortune of £1.000.000 which was left to Mr James 'Whitley, of Timaru, ami hi;; sisfer. the late Mrs E. Brown, of Christchurch, by an aunt in British Columbia, over a quarter of a century ago were given by Mrs A. T. ,Scott, of Devonport. Mrs Scott is one of Whitley’s five children. Her husband has a pa rtnor.sidp in a grocery business in Dominion road. ‘•The money lias lain in Chancery for 2d years,” said Airs Scott. “Af.v late aunt’s daughter, meanwhile, made every endeavour to trace my father

and lii.s sister. Airs Brown, in order That, they might have their share of the estate. 'Hie search lasted until quite recently. Tt has ended now. and conclusive proof that they are the rightful heirs has been forthcoming. The money will reach New Zealand as soon as the necessary formalities have been completed.” Airs Scott further stated that her father and his aunt left their homo in Ireland about .10 years ago. 'Hie aunt, who always told her nephew, AVhitley. that she “would not forget him in her will.” went to America and settled in British Columbia. She was then a wealthy woman. Later she married an American millionaire. AVhitley came to New Zealand. He exchanged little or no correspondence with his aunt, married and continued in his occupation as a shoemaker. He is now over 70 years at’ age, and has for the last 20 years resided at Timaru. Airs A) hitley is still living. Both he and she were naturally pleased to learn of their good fortune, but Air AVhitley at present has no intention of changing his place of residence. He spends a great deal of his time gardening at his home at Timaru. J

“Ic is a pity.” concluded Airs Scott, j “that my father was not able to qn‘.,y his good fortune years ago.” Whitley's sister, the late Mrs Brown, is survived by four married children —a son and three daughters. As the money lots been in Cliaucert for such a long period it will have considerably increased by this time.