The Henson Journals

[246]

Monday, September 21st, 1925.

I left Sandbeck after breakfast & returned to Auckland. From Rotherham to York I shared the carriage with a voluble & rather dogmatic gentleman, whose name, if it may be assumed wd be that which was attached to his bag, was Irwin. He spoke much & optimistically about the state of trade, said that he was a friend of Raine, & was well acquainted with the present condition of the mining industry. He referred contemptuously to Bishop Welldon, expressed admiration for Bishop Westcott, & described the Duke of Northumberland as 'the Mr Cook of the mine owners'. He said also that he was "behind the scenes" of the Coal Commission, & 'had reason to know' that their report wd recommend he purchase of minerals by the State, and the offer of £50,000,000 to the present owners.

Leng met me at Darlington, & motored me to Auckland. I spent the time until dinner, save for a short walk in the Park in writing letters. Ernest had brought for the week–end a lad named Cliffe Cock, the son of clergyman whose parish abutted on Windermere, & who had been one of the students at the Castle under Bishop Westcott. He was a gentle well–mannered youth who aspired to be a land–agent. He had been at a Sedbeigh school for five years, and left a year ago.

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