CLAIMS DAMAGES

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12609, 20 November 1926, Page 9

CLAIMS DAMAGES

MILLIONAIRE’S EX-SECRETARY BREACH OF CONTRACT ALLEGED . WRIT ISSUED A writ lias been issued out of the •Supreme Court at Wellington against Godfrey Williams, the Welsh mineowner, who recently returned to New Zealand aboard his steam yacht, Surprise, after a cruise in Australian waters. Application for the writ was made by Messrs Dolan and .Rogers, acting on behalf of Anthony H. D. Mnyne, solicitor, of Napier. Mayno loft New Zealand on board the Surprise some months ago, in the capacity, it is understood, of secretary to Mr Williams, but ho left the yacht soon after its arrival in Sydnoy. He now claims £1245, alleging that Williams, broke his contract.

“MADAME” RULES THE WAVES

SURPRISE VISIT TO GOVERNOR

SYDNEY PAPER’S STORY The yacht Surprise, which visited Wellington some months ago, and its occupants were the subject of interesting comment in Sydney. The newspaper “Smith’s Weekly” remarked, in part: “Off Garden Island is moored to a naval buoy a large yacht flying the White Ensign. This yacht—the Surprise—is owned by Godfrey Williams, a reputed Welsh millidna're coal-owner, and flies the naval bunting—presumably because she is attached to the Royal Yacht Squadron of Great Britain. Until William IY. mixed among yachtsmen the White Ensign was only allowed to be flown from vessels of the Royal Navy. But his Majesty, in 1829, gave the Royal Yacht Squadron permission to do likewise by a special grant. According to the Williams family it still stands. William IV. has been their social standby for two long years of world cruising. “No expense is spared by this millionaire yachting party to create a good impression. The owner’s wife wears the costliest dresses seen soutn of the Line for years—and carries a special costume round the world with her. The daughters are also attired ‘regardless.’ When she attended one party during her Sydney stay, Mrs Williams wore priceless orchids (to Welsh miners) on her shoulder straps I CALLING ON THE GOVERNOR “But at least one surprise packet awaited the Surprise at Sydney. After annexing a naval buoy for a mooring, the Williams family made straightway for Government House in a taxi. “A man-servant informed them that their Excellencies were absent. “So Godfrey, Mrs Godfrey W. and the ftfro eligible daughters, Mifwany and Daphne, contented themselves with signing the visitors’ book, a .pro-, cess which leads sometimes to a Government House garden party invitation. “When Sir Dudley and Lady do Chair returned to Sydney soon afterwards the Williams family no doubt were surprised at not hearing immediately from Lndy de Chair. “They were more surprised when they did. “Her Ladyship wrote simply expressing regret that she was away when the visitors called. “On the matter being mentioned to Elaine the night following (at a dunce on the Adelaide) the Vice-Regal daughter expressed regret at the absence of her mother when the visitors called. She did not, however, extend any invitation to call again. “At the Kambala school ball at the Ambassadors, one of the biggest social functions of the Sydney season, Mrs Williams struck another social annoyance. On arriving without tickets, she expressed annoyance at not being admitted until her bonn (ides had been established. “And later, when she was asked to step aside in the hall to mako way for ‘Miss Australia,’ what annoyance she did not express she looked!

YACHT “BADLY DRESSED” “Considering what ancient tradition attaches to the White Ensign, it is puzzling to note that no yacht with similar pretensions which has previously visited Sydney from abroad has been so badly dressed. A Geordie tramp skipper wouldn’t permit his vessel to get in such an unshipshape condition. “The bright work of the rails and other parts which are usually as resplendent as mirrors on pleasure yachts is dull through lack of varnish. '"Bags of potatoes, crates of vegetables and other foodstuffs litter the corners of the deck as if they had been dropped there by some armweary person. “. . . The show-room of the ship is the reception room. It is magnificently furnished—from a financial point of view. Many thousand pounds’ worth of art have been crammed into it. “But don’t open the door opposite! It is presumably a lumber room, where anything not wanted on the voyage is flung. “. . . From captain to cook all hands have a wholesome respect for Mrs Godfrey Williams—or ‘Madame.’ as she insists on being called aboard, despite the fact that her Taffy is a Welshman, who made his millions out of miners. “If you ask the special dressmaker on the yacht for whom the dresses she is making are: ‘You must ask Madame !’ ” she will reply. “Father does not figure conspicuously in the picture at all. “As a real sailor can it he that Sir Dudley de Chair is opposed to flyingfish coal-owners being admitted to the Royal Yacht Squadron, even if they have a million or two to spare? “Or is it that the owners of Welsh coal mines are not papular with the Governor of a Labour-governed State in Australia ?”