THE BARNATO MILLIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 325, 18 January 1909, Page 4

THE BARNATO MILLIONS.

.Mr. Harry liarnato, who died in London early last month, was the real founder of the fortunes of the famous '"Barney" and the Joels. It was "Bar'ncy" Barnato, of course, who built up ■the enormous fortunes of the house, 'but it was Harry who gave him the chance. He was tluj lirst to emigrate 'to South Africa, and he sent for his 'brother "Barney'' when he had felt his 'feet in the new country. Harry Barliato's iVr.tuue, will probably prove, to lh« greater than Jeft hehliiud \fy his' 'younger brother, for he was iu most 'things very parsimonious, his only known daily extravagance being cigars, 'which he smoked incessantly. His savings alone, it is said, amounted to sev.e.ml hundreds of thousands of pounds every year, liis income being at the rate 'of £(10,000 to .-£70,000 a month. He 'began life as a juggler; and apart from 'his incessant smoking of cigars, he retained the simple tastes of his days of poverty to tlie end. Now and again, 'it is true, he indulged in some expensive eccentricity, as for instance the dinner he gave to brother millionaires tit the llaiety early in 19011 to celebrate 'the conclusion of the, Russo-Japanese 'war, The guests, thirteen in number, 'were all millionaire diamond merchants. 'ln the centre of the toble was a large 'tank .in which floated model dapanem 'warships overlooked by a, miniature Port Arthur. When the guests entered the 'room it was in semi-darkness, and at tine moment of their entry fireworks 'blazed out from the warships and the ■forts. The principal dish was a lamb, 'which ihiiil been roasted whole, and was 'brought into the room on the back of 'a small black pony. The ponv walked •round the room, while each guest select'ed a portion of the lamb to his taste. (As a rule Harry Barnato was "mean," 'and many stories, some no doubt apocryphal, are told of his stinginess. He 'bought, an expensive motor and kept it 'idle for months, because he could not 'get a competent chnufl'eur at the sam? 'rale of wages ar. one of liis friends was 'paying his driver. On another occasion 'he had a dispute with his tailor over 'eighteenpence charged for certain addi•lional work put. into a pair of trousers. 'l'ntil the Is (id was knocked off liar'unto firmly declined to pay the bill. 'Harry Bnvuato had a tremendous ad- j 'miration for "Barney," ami was never tired of telling talcs to show the wonderful financial genius of his ill-fated 'brother. One. of his most cherished 'possessions was a cheque 'for oyer i £5,000,000 bearing '■Barney's" sigui■ture, which he had in a I'rauie. 'lie was 'very fond of explaining that this was •the last link in the chain of the negotiations for the amalgamation of De ißcers with the Kimberley Company.