Count Van Asten

Old Tongan Resdent Inherits A Dutch Title

AN old residient of Tonga, Mr. F. T, Goedicke, has been informed that he has inherited an old Dutch title, and may call himself Count van Asten.

Count Hendrick van Asten, of Asten, North Brabant, Holland, died some time ago, and a long search disclosed that Mr.

Goedicke, through his mother, was the only surviving relation. He was formally advised that he was heir to the late Count’s title and estates. The Count left about £20,000, which was deposited in a bank at Asten; but it was all looted or destroyed when the Germans invaded Holland in 1940. The bank made a claim upon the Dutch equivalent of our War Damage Commission, but it was not en tertained, as all records had been lost in the bombing, and the depositor (the Count) was dead.

Mr. Goedicke’s great-grandfather was a Dutch General who distinguished him self in 1798 in the war against Spain, and gained a title, but his son went into the Church and gave up the title. He married Caroline van Asten, daughter of the Count van Asten of that day.

“So I’m a Count of no account,” writes Mr. Goedicke, “but I will call myself Goedicke-van Asten. I have told my son, who lives in Devonport, Auckland, that if, after my death, he cares to use the title of Count, which is hereditary, he will have my blessing.”

Mr. Goedicke was a resident of New Guinea 60 years ago, and knew the German Governor, “Queen” Emma For sayth, and other interesting people of that period.