MELBOURNE ITEMS.
(nio.u oui; own cukuksi'oniiknt.) Mblhol'HNu, November 15. It is bettor to br born lucky than rich, and Mr Panwll has been very lucky indeed. iSoiho years ago his admirers subscribed for him a purso of some thinif like £ 14,000, aiul news came lust Monday that another admirer—a lady this time —had bequeathed him £J00<). It is only charitable to immune that this lady Ind lost all control over the bequest before the late scandalous proceedings in the Divorce Court took place. Otherwise, tho donor of the cash must have been—perhaps is still—a very strongs minded woman indeed. Independently, however, of the outrage that, Mr Pnrnell has committed up'.m social morality, which has so seriously damaged the Irish cause, other incidents are not wanting to show that the political crusade he lias led for m> long a time is meeting with serious cheeks in more than ono quarter. It is said that tho Now York Branch of tho Irish League is becoming anxious for a statement of accounts, showing how the money that has been so freely remitted from tho United States was disposed of. It is no trifling sum—about £12.000,000, and the Brunch League wants to know how it has been expended. That the League is in terrible earnest is a fact that does not admit of doubt, as is shown by the hostility evinced towards Messrs. O'Brien and Dillon, who are carrying round a empty hat, which the hardworkiug Irish-Americans are asked to fill. Mr Dillon found tho hat business a profitable speo, in Australia, but, after all, it does not do to carry the empty receptacle round too often unless you are prepared to honestly tell the people who give what became of their money.
It is said that the Moss-Somner will ease will probably come before the Full Court after all. Ever since it was tried in tho early part of the year, Mrs Somner, who wns found by the jury to liavo obtained the bulk of the dead shipowner's property by undue influence, has been endeavouring to come to terms with his relatives. The basis of settlement was that she should givo up a great pnrt of her sharo, so as to bring about a more equitable distribution. Negotiations were almost as good as completed, when Harry Hall, a son of Captain Hall, and a grand, son of the deceased, advanced aolnim for a bigger slice, and lodged a caveat. Last week both Bides were confident of bringing the matter to an issue, but it was again declared'' off," aud instructions were giveu to prepare for the new trial motion. The drawing of wills is usually considered to come exclusively within the province of au attorney, though counsel's opinion is sometimes sought on doubtful points. At least two barrister.", who had taken the place of solicitors for the nonce, and drafted wills themselves, cannot be congratulated on tho outcome of their labours—Henry Moss'* will and J. B. Watson's. The former produced one of the longest will trials known in the colony after tho Lamont case; and the latter has already led to four administration suits. If the draftsmen's purpose had been to put money in tho way of the profession they could not have succeeded better. Lord St Leonards, again, who was a an cmiii' cut barrister who rose to the woolsack, wrote his own will, and tho House of Lords had to bo invoked eventually to decide what their defunct colleague really ial undcd to do with his money.
The ostensible object of the will was to give effect to tho deceased's wishes in each case. What has been the result '' Henry Moss intended to mako his nurse, Mrs Somncr, bis principal legatee, and bis will stands a fair chance of being set. aside unless a settlement is effected or u new trial ordered. Watson's desire was to safeguard his daughter, (ieorgina, agaiust an injudicious marriage, and he took the extreme course of cutting her out of a share in the estate if * she married without tho approval of his trustees. The young lady made her choice, and wrote to "-.he trustees that I'aul Kitz was the only man she aver "really truly loved," but they weie obdurate She invoked the aid of the Supreme Court, not to decide the meaning of the will, but to set certain of its provisions aside. In this case, howover, the C°urt declined to interfere, and the young lady has now to choose between her lo ver il nd £2000 a year. She has been rather heavily handicapped by her dejoased father. How will she decide ?
Mr Andrew Kerr, (lie senior partner of the firiu of Andrew Kerr and Co. Ltd., having died, it has become necessary to effect certain changes in tloit old established and profitable business, most of the beneficiaries under tho iate Mr Kerr's will being infants. As tho business is in workiutr order, and as it is known that several colossal foi'tuues have been made out of if, no ouo is surprised that a company is now being formed for the purchase and working of tho concern. Tho General I'Mnimco Agency Company of Australia Ltd. is /bating the new company, which is to have a capital of £250,000, in 100,000 shares at £•> 10s. each. The terms to intending shareholders are easy. The capital is to be called up to £1 per share as follows; 2s Gd on application, os on allotment, and the balance (Ills Od per share) in monthly instalments of -s (id each. The new company will trade under tho stylo of Kerr, iM'Donald and (Jo. Ltd. The vendors give the purchasers the option of a lense for seven years of their freehold property in Melbourne, recently (-un-iiuse;), and upon which have been erected exl.ui.sivn buildin;."\ specinlly Kori.itructt.-d for the purpo.»u of the bikini's-:, the rental being a very small penenlago upon the actual en it of the property. The proposed company wji 1 tliu.i Mart in full working order and iinhiimpsi'L-d in any way. They pay no iru'id will, the stock is taken at a low valuation, book debts are all guaranteed, plants and machinery are almost new, and of the most improved kind, aud what will bo very gratifying intelligence to investors, is the fact that the profits have averaged £30,-100, per annum for tho last 12j years. This explains the manner in which several colossal fortunes have been Diade in the concern.
1 rend that Mr I'urves " had tho good huuko to diltilo his speech I'or the prosccutbniutho Premier conspii'H«y trial by a fow Hashes of tliafc spuikling and delicate humour, the recipe for which will probably die with hiui. Nothing could he neater thiu the way he bowled out Dr ■Mtuldun, after vainly trying for two days to drew tlio Irish badger from his attitude of dignified repose. At lust a happy reference to fleas produced a liite. Learned counsel for tho prosecution made a solemn pretence of forgetting tho old nursery rhyme. Dr, Madden, who has had tho Le*)';iit uf a University education, supplied tho <|uotation in a instant. •' Ah," said I'lirves, " J know iny learned friend would break in at this point. Ho knows luoro about these animals than any man in this court." J)r. Madden eeratohed liii iiead aud wa'i silent."
Municipal Corporations may take Jicnrt of jjr.iuu flout l!u: foilowiuy incident, i elated by onuuf our muuieipalcouncillors, •who has returned from his travel*. Ilu h iyM Uofore wu left Cairo Micro was an airmsiiiy cxporioiißfi, which showed us ttiar. the Melbourne corporate seal had its ti.'.i'H even in K»ypl.. A parly of us wanted to look over a I'alace. 1 inf- we happened .<> go 111 r-ro ;;I. the wroti:.' hour. Wo could nntg.im <!<>». Suddenly it. oemmvd to my ii'hvrlhat the produe liiin of too ollicial document in which the jUi'lljuitt'iH' (lorp-'-iatiott commended mc to tlio jrnculwill of all mayors and corporate l>odies might have an impre-sive effect. This document, scaled with tlio civic coal, I had with mo, enclosed in a red morocco case. which had been pre-euted to mo by the Sha'<s[iero .Society of Melbourne. 11 was produced and Irindud to tho ojlioials i'J. the door. Thoy immediately went in-t-Iflf 1 tih:; building, and returned •with throu {superior buuirw, who eameout, Lowed low, and showed us over the I'rilaco Then they bowed us out. Apparently, they took us for some ltifili dignitaries. There is some pood, you see, in a letter from the Melbourne Corporation—or, at mv rato, in the civic a^nl."
"•larrinpf of convcnieuci-, whiob li.hv Ijti-n r. 'C: :! oanc ii: !'r «»>•. ;:!o ..•,•;<{ ' .Wi the 'jo'.lino there,
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Waikato Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 2875, 16 December 1890, Page 4
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1,436MELBOURNE ITEMS. Waikato Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 2875, 16 December 1890, Page 4
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