CAWTHRON GENEROSITY

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2131, 24 April 1914, Page 7

CAWTHRON GENEROSITY

THE NEW PARK FOE NELSON. Mr. TSipmas Cairthron. the Nelson philanthropist, has added to his- reputation for generosity by presenting tho Dwi Mountain property to the city of Nelson ns a public park. Reference to this gift was made ty Dr. C. 111. Hector, president of the Wellington Philosophical Society, on Wednesday evening, when the Dun Mountain was mentioned as one of tho possible sites for tho erection of the now Cawthron SolarObscrvatoiyi, The mountain, v-ljirh is ahout ten isijes from Nelson, is visible from the town, and according to Dr. Hector can be easily pielced out from the surrounding mountains owing to its distinctive dun colour. The Dun Mountain Freehold vt.s sold to Mr. James Cawthre-n by Mr. Joseph Smytho in July, 1913. The property consists of 2839 acres, bounded on all sides by Government reserves. The old Dun Mountain tramline was constructed frcstn the Port of Nelson to the saddle, between the Roding River ar-d the South Maitai, Tfeis was 12 miles in length, and was laid down in 1855. The Dun Mountain was originally intended to lie worked as a copper mine, and tho first scria «f the company was signed by James Morrison, of tho firm of James Morrison and Go., of Loudon, Ales. Sclandors, of the linn of S'elanrlers and Co., London and Nelson, and Oswald Curtis, Superintendent of the Nelson Province-. Later on it was decided to Work the property tor chrome iron, and many thousands of tens were shipped to England. Tho freehold was afterwards purchased by Mr. Jorcpji Smytho, of Cbristolnirch, and although it was sold to Mr. Cawthron in July, 1013, tho completion of -tho purchase was only made on Monday (says the Christ-church "Press"). The delay was caused over the right .of-way over the tramline and over the right of roads over- certain private properties, which had been hold i« abeyance-, thinhing that tlio owners would not insist upon their rights. The Dim Mountain property is of historic Mitercst to Mr. Cawthron, because as a young man from Cornwall, his first great work was accomplished there. Mr. C.urtliron'n reminiscences of this period if liis life are very interesting, asid he leves to talk of the hardships that he endured in those early days, and.contrast ttn»m with present-day conditions. In his generous gift to the people of Nelson 01 tills splendid park, ho is also p'eseiviiig u happy memory of his youthful struggles. ■