SIR THOMAS'S NEW HOPE.

Motueka Star, Volume IV, Issue 194, 30 June 1903, Page 4

SIR THOMAS'S NEW HOPE.

SHAMROCK 111. AND HER GENEROUS OWNER. Everyone will have the best of good wishes for Shamrock 111. It is said that to win the American Cup has been the great ambition of Sir Thomas Lipton's life ;as a boy he made up bis mind-that one day he would own the best and fastest yacht afloat. Since making that resolution, he has devoted many years to close attention to business, but all the cares of business do not seem to have affected his spirits. He has been described as "six feet of raw-boned optimism." His laugh is hearty and infectious. His blue eyes are kindly and twinkle with good humour. He is a generous, big hearted, shrewd headed bachelor, who does not allow his money to influence the promptings of his heart, but rather looks upon his wealth as a means of gratifying a natural inclination to communicate some of the sunshine of his own life into the lives of those around him: His magnificent gift to London's poor at the time of the Queen's Jubilee will be a monument to his memory, and gives an insight into the character of the man. He heard that the Princess of Wales had suggested raising a fund to feed the poor during the Jubilee. " The idea was to give them one good meal if they never got another? While others were thinking of the entertainment of foreign Princes and Princesses, or of preparing gorgeous military pageants, the Princess had this thought for the poor. She appealed for funds, but while money was being scattered right and left there was little response, and the poor fund had a feeble growth. One day Sir Thomas was talking with the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress, and the poor- fund came up in the course of conversation. "How is it coming on V asked th« merchant. "Very slowly," replied the Mayor. "We* have only about five thousand pounds subsciibed, and the project will require at least thirty thousand." Sir Thomas always' carries a cheque book in his pocket. He pulled this out, and, asking for pen and ink, promptly wrote a cheque for .££5,000. Handing this to the Lord Mayor, he remarked, "If that isn't enough to see the thing through, let me know."