CLARICE, THE MILLIONAIRE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 326, 31 January 1874, Page 3

CLARICE, THE MILLIONAIRE.

" And the rich man died and was buried." I will not give the sequel. W. J. T. Clarke, the richest, meanest man in Victoria, has gone where he will be judged. Many people the moment a man has died cry out, "De mortuis nil nisi bonum — say nothing but good of the dead — but what is one to do when nothing good can be said ? The day that the Colonial Bank hoisted its flag in honor of deceased Dives, I wandered up and down Collins-street seeking in the eagerness of my charitable soul to find some one who would speak well of the dead. I went into every shop and hotel, but still my quest was vain, the San Graal was not to be found. Suddenly I came against a friend. He looked weary and worn, his clothes, were travel-stained, his boots were worn out at the toes, and his general aspect lamentable.. " Why," said I, " what have you been doing ?" " Trying to find a person -who said he was sorry Big Clarke was dead." I gave up my quest. Yet this man must have had good qualities. Whatever may be said of hie ignorance or his meanness, he must have had a strong mind, a clear head, to have become the millionaire he was. But he allowed tie craving for money to overcome, all that was good and noble in his nature. As some people succumb to strong drink, so. this man became the prey of avarice. It became the passion of his soul. He knew, neither- rest nor peace ; there was no pleasure for him except in tiie accumulating of wealth. He might have lived pleasantly, gathered honor, love, and friendship in hjs old"" age, become the idol of the people- of the colony, and long after his death his name would shed a fragrance round. Kind deeds, charity, would have won him happiness that no gold could bestow. He knew no real happiness, although the possessor of countless gold, and he has gone to his grave unwept, unhonored. But there 19 much truth in the lines —

The darkest night that shrouds the sky Of beauty has a share. The blackest heart has signs to tell Thftt God still lingers there. I pity alkthat evil are ; I pity and I mourn : But tbe Supreme has punished all ; But oh ! I dare not scorn. So let him return to the dust, and- let his life be an example to others. When W.. J. T. Clarke was on his deathbed, some time ago, he sent for an old friend and neighbor, who is of a very religious turn of mind. Clarke had his millions — he is reputed to have died worth from £2,000,000 to- £4,ooo,ooo— but this man, a simple, farmer, had nothing but hie little plot of ground. But he had what was of imperishable worth. Clarke asle I the old. gentleman to read the Bible to him, and for some time he listened attentively. Suddenly the sereant came, in with a letter. It bore the postmark of the town near one of the millionaire's beet stations. The dying man roused himself upand said to the favmer, " Lay the Bible by for the present — I must see how the lambing has gone on. at station this year."" When the deceased millionaire was at the point of death some few. months since, a bank manager visited him. He found Clarke almost, insensible, unable to move, and to all appearances breathing his last. But when the bank manager came in his face brightened, and, beckoning him with his shaking hand.

lie said, in a voice bo low as to be almost inaudible, "How are Colonial Bank shares selling on the Exchange to-day?" — From "On the Flags," in " Town and Country." The other side of the picture : — " yEgles," in the " Australasian " writes : " The richest man in Victoria, and I believe the richest man in the Australian colonies, is no more. Mr Clarke wa3 a man of great foresight and large views. He was one who could lay out his money and patiently bide his time for the friution. He had not a reputation for liberality, but I know one or two actsj of great kindneßS done by Mr. Clarke without any display or apparent consciousness that he was doing anything wonderful. There was one characteristic of Mr. Clarke which I think redounds to his credit. He never took advantage of defects of land legislation to unfairly acquire the land he so much loved. He was niDt a hirer of dummies, but openly bought as much land as he could lay hold of.