A WINDFALL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 73, 19 December 1919, Page 8

A WINDFALL

BEQUEST FOR MATERNITY WARD HOSPITAL BOARD'S LEGACY The "Wellington Hospital and Charitable Aid Hoard yesterday received notice «f n windfall having come its way under the terms of the will of the, late Dr. Edith Huntley. With a view to alleviating the pains and perils of expectant mothers, the late Dr. Huntley devised ti bcQiiest for research work and the endowment of an institution in obstetris. Tho terms of the bequest were fully set out in a letter read at yesterday's meeting of the board from Messrs. Mazeiigarb, Hay, and Jlaca lister, which ran as follows:—"Wo have been instructed by Mr. J. W. Davys, of.-Kolburn, and Mr.;. Annie M'Vicar, of' Mirarnar, the ?xfctors and trustees under the will of thD late Dr. Edith Ora. Huntley, to inform you of the provisions of her last will. With tho exception of personal legacies of her personal effects, and of a sum of JMOO, Dr. Huntley has given the whole of her estate (subject to an annuity of JMOO in favour of her sister) to her trustees upon tho undermentioned trust, namely:— For tho creation, maintenance, and endowment of an institution or insti, tutions for tho care and treatment . of expectant mothers and for tho promotion of research into tho means of lessening the pain and peril of childbith and of the usq and development of modern alleviations, such as twilight sleep, ami of modern oxytocics as a safe and humano altornativo to the obstetrical uso of chloroform and forceps and hurry in normal and merely tedious cases of child-birth, and for the teaching and training of pupils in midwifery. Other provisions of tho will tiro: (a) That the institution shall hear tho surname of the testatrix as part of its description; (b) it is desired that a British qualified medical -woman with a special interest in and love for the obstetrical branch of the medical profession shall be placed in charge; (c) that the trust shall bo administered for tho benefit of the peoplo of Now Zealand, but if, owing to indifference, tho trustees, deem it impracticable to givo effect to this desire of tho testatrix, tho trust U to be administered for the benefit of the people of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland; (d) tho institution is to be available to all women without distinction of creed or station ; (el the trustees havo power to constitute a 'board of trustees for tho purpose of furthering the objects of the trust." "We understand," concluded the letter, "that the trustees may shortly formulate sonie scheme, with a view to working in co-opevation with your board. Hence this letter," "A Very Worthy Object." The chairman (Mr. F. Castle) commented that tho bequest was for a veryworthy object, and the board would be very willing to co-operate with any trustees that might be set up undor the will. It. would, however, be unable to do anything until a definite scheme was brought down. Ho moved that the executors'bo informed that the board would be very glad to co-operate in any scheme which could be formulated. Tho motion was carried, with the addition, on the suggestion of Mr. C. _M. Luke, that the chairman bo authorised to confer with tho trustees on the matter. Mrs. M'Vicar explained that it was the wish of the late Dr. Huntley that there should be a ward or a wing in connection with the Wellington Hospital devoted to the purposes outlined. Sho had stressed very strongly tho efficacy of "training our own nurses under our own roof." Tho estate would realise between i'JOOO and ,£IO,OOO, and it included tho late doctor's Lahman Home at Miramar, on which there was an encumbrance of £500. It was left to tho executors' discretion whether this home would bo gold or not. The money under the estate was all woll invested. Mr. Luke commented that it was a very good sign of tho times that persons when passing away appreciated in such n tangible way tho humnnitarinn work of Hie board. He honed it would be the forerunner of other similar legacies.