PENSIONER’S CLAIM

Hokitika Guardian, 11 July 1930, Page 7

PENSIONER’S CLAIM

COUSIN OF DEAD BARON.

’ MILLIONS AT STAKE.

1 ' / SYDNEY, June 19. 1 olldwi>ig close upon a message from New Zealand announcing that Mr R. B. 'Williamson, a Christchurch dentist'fapd a second cousin of the late Lord;Ashton, had claimed to he the only surviving blood relation of the “peer,: came ytlhe announoement that Henry^Caipe- Williamson, an old age pensioner,, of Mosman, Sydney, as Lord Ashton’s ;;first cousin held hope of inheriting '..the fortune, which had been estimated/at something dike £30,000,-

000.; Sydney. Williamson came to make 'the- claim, if he did make it, to be, Ashton's only, surviving blood,.relative. * ' ‘‘.[■aih.'liis father, and, he has an elder brother who is in the New Zealand railway'-servipe,”- said the Sydney Wyliamson,. “James .Williamson, Lord Ashton’s.; father, and George Williamsort myyfather, were brothers. Lord Ashton therefore, was may cousin. He mas a splendid business man, and it is (scarcely thinkable that he should have died without making a will He has a daughter,'Ella, who married Lord Pee), a son of: .tlie famous Speaker of .the ’ House of '‘’Commons. , What my position is! I}-dp. mot 1 know yet. If Lord Ashtori;’lelt no will I might benefit; but. 'certaihly l do not want to pose as.a el'aimajflt or anything of that sort.” dVfi* .Williamsbn is nearly 88 years of in. life’s game. He live:s>in/ai v tiny room and in the midst of Ids‘.diversity’ lie'accepts life uncomplainingly, living alone with. his books and Jiis pipes., When hie tires of reading he! seljs. to .and works , out abstrusfe •mathematical '• problems—a ' strange hobby .fp'r ; a man of bis years but strikifig:i. i proof of his mental ability. In. his Mr Williamson knew Lord , A|jKton’ well', if hot affectionately; ; ,; not aporove of his business • .mw.hdds . and ’ they were never greatsffriphds.' Mr : Williamson '• studied, * medicine : : a't. •Glasgow, but ill-health compelled /’.him •to give up the course. He wn’s {packed ofF for a long sea trip to NeWfiZhblaud, and there' he remained jfor years, during which time ’ he school. . For some years he was a phemist Dunedin. When hard timps i’cdhfPt'- he kccepted them philoso,Theni.sciatica gripped;;hi)w|;and, he'.-was, unable- to work. Npw lie, Mias- no avaricious thoughts, * and ; hetisibertainly, not excited at the’ prospect*,‘of.a peerage. All the same he that a few millions wouldr ptpye ‘..acceptable ’to supplement k time many?-olaims-to ate made by residents of Australia that ' fiie. public -is no more excited oyfer./th« possibilities that face Mr than-he himself. But they orp'iiffterested-in the fact that New Australia can boast rival : claimants ;to speh a huge fortune.