£100,000 FOR ART GALLERY

Chronicle (Levin), 25 October 1946, Page 5

£100,000 FOR ART GALLERY

-Press Association

HANDSOME BEQUEST FOR AUCKLAND

Bv Teleciravh—

AUCKLAND, Oct. 24. A bequcst to tlie citv of Auckland estimated to be worth at least £100,000 for tlie ereetion or maintenaiice of an art gallery, is made under tlie will ot the late Alr. Philip Augustus Edmiston, forinerly of Auckland, who died in Syd ney on September 11 in his 93rd year. Mr. Edmiston 's Xew Zealand estate is conservatively valued at £250,000 and is subject to various amiuities and life in terests, tlie residue being left to the .city. Duties are expected to absorb ap-. proximately lialf the value of the New Zealand estate. Provided that values are maintained, however, it is expected that the eity will ultimately benelit to the extent of over £100,000. A wisli was expvessed by 'AIr Edmiston that a trust fund should be used in pro viding Auckland with an adequate ari gallery and for purchasing works of art, and lie expressed the opinion that any such art gallery should be ereeted ip .'onjunction with or near the Auckland war memorial museum. Should the trust board eonsider the art gallery scheme incapable of fulfilment, it is empowered to apply the fund or part of it for charitable purposes within New Zealand or for the benelit of Dr. Barna do's Home. Alr. Edmiston, who was well known in insurance cireles' in Auckland, was closely associated with the business and1 meial life of the eity until his retirement in 1906. He lived in Remuera until about seven years ago when he removed to Sydney. He joined the New Zealand Aceident Insurance Company as an accountant on the ineeption of the company in 1879 and became general maiiager ip 1884. He retired in 1906 when the company was absorbed by the New Zealaad Insurance Com{tany. -