FROM RICHES TO 25/- A WEEK

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20278, 21 August 1937, Page 12

FROM RICHES TO 25/- A WEEK

Gold -mine Pioneer Dies in Tenement When He Lived in Luxury in Londop

An amazing story of the rise and fall of a Rand plutocrat is brought to light by the death a few days ago In a 'Kilhurn tenement or Mr Alfred Goldberg, one of the pioneers ot South African gold-mining. Goldberg, emigrant and speculator, became a power In the gold mines, and should, in his own words before he died, have been “the richest man In the world.” The son of a clothing manufacturer, and one of a family of nine, he was educated at the Jews’ College, London. Developing bronchial trouble, he was sent to Mew Zealand for his health. He arrived in the Antipodes just before the Ohlnlmuri goldfields were proclaimed a public digging. The lure of gold caught him, and, impatient of the delay in the proclamation, he crossed to Australia and the goldfields there. He tramped through Victoria to the Bush, and became prospector and trader in the Interior, till he heard of the possibilities in South Africa. It was not long before Mr Goldberg took ship to the Cape, and soon he was a member of the colony at Wltwatersrand. He saw, like the others, the. promise which the goldbearing land held out, and put forward the unheard-of proposal of mining at deep levels. He was laughed at, but, convinced of the soundness of his scheme,

’ pegged out claims in the Jumpers, j George Goch, Wolhuter, and other properties. Before very long he was making great profits from pioneer work on deep level mining. 'Encouraged by success. Goldberg went on to obtain claims over a district of hills, the Kwart Kopjes, which became for 25 years the main source of supply to adjoining towns. He was then worth half a million pounds. He lived in luxury In London with a retinue of servants, horses, a coach, a brougham, a landau. Tie rented stables from Lord Russell ot Killowen; Sir John Millais, the painter, was a neighbour; and he entered the circle of men like Cecil Rhodes, Barney Barnato, and Sir Abe Bailey. But apparently he could not keep his money. In 1896 he had to pari with his claims, selling them for £250,000. He retained small Interests. Including a concession In the province of Mozambique; but slowly and surely his capital dwindled, and his standard of life few. He always hoped that one day he would recoup his fortunes, but lie died. In his 82ml year, in a ding) back room, where lie had lived on 25s a week, wilh only a few friends to mourn his passing. Mr Goldberg was a man of personality. geniality and courage. Ho retained to the end a courtly dignity, which was natural and unaffected.