KING'S COLLEGE, AUCKLAND.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1482, 3 July 1912, Page 5

KING'S COLLEGE, AUCKLAND.

A SUCCESSFUL SCHEME. .£IB,OOO GUARANTEED. The proposal lo form King's Collego into a. largo boarding and day .school, upon the lines of the English Public Schools, which was the result of an ofl'or made by the present principal, Mr. C. T. Major, to transfer the goodwill of the school gratuitously to any responsible body of citizens, conditional upon certain stipulations, is now definitely assured. Tlio principal of these conditions were that a suitable site, of not less than 20 acres, should be obtained within easy distance of tlio city, ami that at least .£20,000 should bo expended upon buildings. The money was to lie advanced in tlio form of subscriptions, to bear interest at a rate not exceeding 5 per cent., all other moneys, in excess of this interest, earned by tlio school to be devoted to scl.oo! purposes only. Another important condition was that the buildings must includo a school chapel, and that religions instruction in conformity with the. teachings of tlio Church of England should form part of the curriculum, subject to a "conscienco clauso" for day toys.

As a consequence of this offer upon Mr. Major's part, a meeting of citizens was held in tho Chamber of C'ommorco on November .1, 11)11, when ti committee was set up, consisting of:—Tho Right Bcv. thn Bishop of Auckland, Hon. E. Mitchelsoa, Rev. W. Bcattv, Professor Dettmann, Dr. W. C. W. M'Eowell, Messrs. 11. W. Hudson, V. J. Earner, J. C. Maclty, 11. B. Morton, J. \V. Stowart, C. J. Tunks, A. C. Caughey, D. L. Nathan! A. S. liankart, Ernrst Yates, and tho president of King's College Old Boys' Association. Since that time the committee has been working steadily, much time and thought having been devoted to the project, and invaluable assistance to 1 lie Old Boys' Association having been rendered by the I'<m. E. Mitehelson, and Messrs. V. J. Earner and 11. \Y\ Hudson in particular. To the latter gentleman is due the credit of having first approached the association and giv«n the matter a definite impulse towards completion. At a representative meeting of tho committee held at King's College on Friday evening, with Dr. \V. C. W. M'Dowell in the chair, the secretary of the Old Boys' Association announced that guarantees for .CIB.OOO of the X 20,000 stipulated for hy Mr. Major woro to hand. With the definito promises received in addition to thip and the knowledge that numbers with whom they had been unablo to" communicate would bo only too glad to assist, they felt justified in assuring him that the balance of .£2OOO would soon be forthcoming. Mr. Major accepted the assurance and the option* of the goodwill of (he college gratuitously was taken up. It was arranged that a meeting of the committee should be IHd on Wednesday, July 10, at King's College lo appoint sub-com-mittees for the purpose of completing details.

The chairman referred as a matter for congratulation to the fact that provision had been made for the retention of King's College for all time. The committee greatly appreciated the action of the old boys, _ who, realising the benefit of their training at King's College, had desired that their old school should be put upon a permanent basis for the benefit of future generations of schoolboys. It was indeed a pleasure to assist them, and ho felt sure that having energetic and Enthusiastic old boys to back up tho school was the best possible assurance for its-,future welfare. x In reply. Mr. A. P. Rcid, president of tlio Old Boys' Association, .stated that this was a proud moment for the old boys, when their uld school, the youugest in the Dominion, had been placed upon a permanent basis,' and ho felt suro that it was tlio siucero wish of every old boy that the college should prosper, and that the training it gave should be a lasting benefit to the boys educated there. They desired that the fruits of this training should be wen not only in their business, but in their duties as citizens, and that tliev might ever ibn a credit to Auckland. He desired to cxnre.ss Die gratitudo and appreciation of the association to the public-spirited citizens who had so generously supported the proposal. On tho proposal of the chairman, the following gentlemen were added to the committee;— Hon. A. M. Myers. Dr. 11. D. Bamford. Messrs. W, K. Bloomfieid. and C. Jr. Cnldcr, anil Hires members of the Old Bovs' Association. The announcement by Mr. Major that the Pah College had been amalgamated with King's was received with expres.-dens of approval. '