The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-12-20
THE wEALTHIEsT AUSTRALIAN.
Death of the Squatter Who Lived to
 Finance His Government

Finance His Government.
 James Tyson is dead-the holder of vast territorial rights, posseSsor of countless herds and focks, the mean est man probably that the present cen tury has known, the stock target for the gibes of the small fry of the press. A man who won nobodys love, excited the envy of only the sordid few. and yet one of whom no one can truthfully speak i'll. For to be mean is--in one so scrupulous as was ames Tyson, so ex- act and exacting, so rigidly honest and truthful-to be the incarnation of sim pie justice. He gave nothing, and took nothing without paying for it hs es- innate of it's precise value he ate, drank, and wore only what bare neces- sity required, and he required from those in his employ the same strict ab- stinence, and, as far as possible, ex actitude in the business of life.
 More than fifty years ago Tyson emt- grated to Australia worked as a sta- tion hand for e3O per year, but saved, practically, every penny, put his saw ings as they accrued into sheep or cat tie, and thus formed the necleus of his immense tlocks. He attributed his sue cessful acquisition of wealth to his own strict habits of self denial He never smoked, drank nothing stronger than tea, eschewed even the minor luxuries of the table, never kissed girl, and never visited theater or other house of entertainment. Arriving unexpectedly at his head station, Felton, on the Dar- ling Downs, he became aware of the presence of a few tins of jam which his manager and staff had hared to indulge in. Flash tucker" Tyson disdainfully termed it, and promptly dismissed all hands for perpertatig' such wasteful ex- travangance.
 One true story, which has never yet appeared in print, relates how in his insensate straining for economy he overreached himself. In the early six ties the only steamers trafficing on the Australian coasts were those of the old A. s. N. company. Fares were high, and Tyson, having frequent occasion to travel between Sydney and Brisbane, invariably went steerage and took his own rations-the bushmans bread beef and tea. During the prolonged sojourn in the back country rival steamer company opposed the monopoly, fares were cut down to vanishing point, and included the free supply of meals. Ty- son returned to the coast, and, un- aware of the full extent of these con- cessions paid the required fare, but took his own ration bag as usual. Not until the termination of the voyage did helearn that money he had paid en- titled him to three free meals day, so he demaned a rebate from the com pany, but apparently his sense of equity prevailed, for the claim was not pressed.
 A man of great wealth became nat urally a butt for collectors for charities and churches, but they rarely caught their bird. He was tackled once by the late Joshua Bell for a handsome dona- tion to the Brisbane hospital, which was in sore financial straits. You ought to give a thousand,' said Bell. why should I?'' complained Tyson; "other people don't give thousands. You won't find three men in this city who will give even G250 apiece" added Ty- son. If you can before i o'clock I'll give the same" Bell, always generous, gave one sum himself, and coaxed two friends to do likewise, just for the sake of landing Tyson" who, always faithful to his word, promptly paid.
 James Tyson never speculated, but he kept keen watch on the stock mark cts, climatic changes, and oplitical de- velopments of his adopted country, and invariably turned his observations to nancial profit. Of patriotism or senti- ment of any kind he had none Much has been written and printed of his fa- nous offer to lend the Queensland gov