MACARTHY TRUST

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2425, 1 April 1915, Page 6

MACARTHY TRUST

AN ASSET TO WELLINGTON SOME OF THE GOOD WORK (By "Civicua ") The donating of the sum of £6000 to the Hospital Board by the Macarthy Trustees for the purpose of providing a convalescent home for children has brought into the focus of tho public eyo the almost immeasurable value o£ the great estate left by the lato T. G. Macarthy for the benefit of charitable aud educational institutions within tho district of Wellington. Once a trust is established such as that which will ever redound to tho credit of the late Mr. Macarthy it is customary to take the annual distribution of benefits as a matter of course, but thero is an enormous debt of appreciation due to the donor of this money, which is being utilised so discreetly for the moral and educational uplift of the community. It is not going too far to say that every society or institution, which has been favourably c-onsidered m the past, is doing its level best to promote a. better order of things, and that in their work —which is often hampered for want of funds—tho help vouchsafed by the trustees has not only kept the good work going, but has been the means of infusing new life and spirit in those concerned in the work. One seldom hears how our orphanages faro in their endeavours to provide for bereft children, but it is good to. see that the funds of St. Joseph's Orphanage have already benefited to the extent of £500, and the Presbyterian Orphanage by £380 from this ever-flowing fount. Likewise the All Saints' Children's Home at Palmerston North, the Anglican Boys' Home at. Berhampore, the Salvation Army Homes, the AVangaaiui Orphanage, and tho Rev. Mother Mary Aubert's Home of Compassion (which received £500 last year) have all been remembered in the past, and can rely on a measure of financial aid in the future. To these and other institutions which have for thoir object the care of neglected children, it is gratifying to note that once more tho children are being considered in this convalescent home scheme. .'lTianks to a great effort we have a very fine children s hospital, replete with every modern convenience. Now that institution will in times of stress be relieved by the removal of those on the road to recovery by the provision in some sunny, healthy spot of a comfortable home whore the youngsters can lounge away the days as strength creeps back again to muscle and. tissue. Surely the late Mr. T. G. Macarthy has done a great work for the City in providing the means for such laudable achievement. Only the children have been mentioned so far in this appreciation, but it must not be forgotten how very helpful the trust's contributions to the many educational institutions have been during tho past year, and now there iR every reason to believe that the cause of higher education is to be served by a substantial allocation to the Victoria College for the purpose of setting up a School of Economics and Commerce, of which tho present Professor of Economics would be the scholastic head. So that whilst all the societies devoted to tho welfare of children, and for tho "prevention of this" and the "protection of that" have been strengthened in the excellent work they are doing, it will be scon that the training of our young mon and womon to take up positions of responsibility in the State is not being neglected by tho trust, of which wo in Wellington should all bo bo proud. It may be said that tho lato Mr. Macarthy "set an example well worth following ljy others. It is good citizenship to give wisely of your plenty, and Wellington may yet receive endowments which will at least mean equal „ honours with other New Zealand centres.