BARON DE HIRSCH.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2209, 2 June 1891, Page 3

BARON DE HIRSCH.

The Auckland Herald writes : —A good deal of talk is sometimes indulged in respecting Baron de Hirsch, who is now taking such a practical interest in the welfare of the Jews expelled from Russia as being the Baron de Hirsch who at one time resided in Auckland, and who spent a very large sum of money, at the Thames in the early days of that goldfield. Thames people are fond of identifying the two men as the same individual. But it is not so. We are informed by one well acquainted with the family that they are both of the same family—indeed, Baron Lucian de Hirsch, the Jewish philanthropist, being own brother to Baron de Hirsch, formerly of Auckland and the Thames. Baren Lucian is the elder brother, and Baron Jamas, who was in Auckland, is the younger brother of a family of ten. Both are sons of Baron Joseph de Hirsch, banker of Munich, Bavaria. They are members of a well-known and wealthy Euopean family. How Baron James came, to be New Zealand was in the early stages of the Maori War. He was in Melbourne at the time Colonel Fitt collected his contingent there to come to the aid of New Zealand daring the Waikato War. After the War was over Baron James de Htrsoh formed a partnership with Mr Burra, under the name of Burra and de Hirsch, and carried on the business of merchants and commission agents in Auckland. On the opening of the Thames goldfields the firm transferred their energies there, and business was carried on there for Baron de Hirsch by Dr Groote aod Mr Wilson. It is said that from first to last Baron de Mirsch spent little short of £20,000 upon various enterprises he engaged in the Thames goldfield. He married an Auckland lady (since deceased), and one child lies buried on the North Shore. The other child of the marriage is now about twenty-three years of age, and is living with one of hie uncles and is known as Baron Theodore, though the full name is Joseph Theodore being named after his grandfather, Baron Joseph de Hirsch of Munich. Baron James and his wife are both dead, the lady having died about nineteen years ago, and he a few years after, leaving the one son who was born at Auckland.