HOME FOR THE AGED. COSTLEY BEQUEST UTILISED. LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 364, 1 May 1889, Page 3

HOME FOR THE AGED. COSTLEY BEQUEST UTILISED. LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE.

Auckland, April 27. The important ceremony of laying the foundation stone of the Coafcley Home for the Aged took place at 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon at Epsom, when a large and influential number of citizens and residents i n the suburbs attended. In the absence of the contractor, Mr J. J. Holland superintended theproceedingson his behalf. The site iscloso to Potter's paddock, and at the foot of Dr. Campbells olive plantation. At the gateway leading into the paddock two large poles were erected from which tloated several Hags. Where the stone was to be laid a rough platform had bseu erected and a square space walled off. Inside this, were seats for the ladies who had been invited. In the front vow &at Mrs aud Miss Devore, and two chairs were reserved for Lord and Lady Onslow. At tho four coiners of the enclosure poles were placed, fiom which depended rows of Hags, which considerably improved the appeal ance of the place. In the contre was the large triangle supporting the foundation stone. Beneath the stone was a- bottle enclosed in a metal case. This contained copies of the Evening Star and "New Zealand Herald," together with the extra issued yesterday detailing the fire on the Mariposa. It abo contained a copy of the will of the benevolent donor ot the bequest to which the institution owes its existence — the late MiEd waid Costley. In addition <o this there were placed in the bottle .1 übilee silver coins and the following document : — " The foundation stone ot this Refuge for the Aged Poor was laid by His Excellency tho Governor of New Zealand, the lli»ht Hon. the Earl of Onsiow, G.C.M.G., on Wednesday, the 24th of April, in the year of our Lord, 1889. This Kefuge was erected by the district ot Auckland Hospital and Charitable Aid Board out of the bequest of £12,150 made to the Old Men's Home by Edward Costley, one of the earliest colonists and citizens of Auckland. He also bequeathed a like sum to each ot the following institutions :— The Auckland Hospital, the Parnell Orphans' Home, the Auckland Institute, the Auckland Free Public Library, and the Auckland Sailors' Home." Then follow the names of Charles Atkin (chairman), and Messrs S. J. Ambury, W. T J. Bell, \V. F. Buckland, C. Dawson, P. Dignan, S. Gooseman, J. J, Holland, J. M. Lennox, O. May?, and 11 Udy, members of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board; Edward Bartley, architect for the building ; E. A. Matthews, contractor (price £7,297) ; and H. N. Garland, Secretary of the Board. The proceedings were enlivened by musical selections, rendered gratuitously by Impey's Band, those members being alone paid who would sacrifice half a day's pay in attending. Amongst those present were His Worship the Mayor (Mr A. E. T. Devore) and his wife, Mr Malcolm Niccol (Chairman of the Harbour Board), Biahops Cowie and Luck, Monseignor McDonald, Rs\s. Nelson, and, Tebbs (Anglican), T. Hamer (Congregational), T. % Adams and Momo (Presbyterian), Shirley Baker (Wesleyan), and Mr Brakenrig (city missionary), Dis Girdler, Bond, Beale, Knight, Campbell, A. GPurchas, Giles, Bi.M., Crs. Lennox, Atkin, lngnan, Swales, Smith, Trenwith, Holland, and Farrell, Messrs F. J. Mo&s, E. Hesketh, J. Newman, 0. Mays, 8. J. Ambury (Mayor of Newton), \Y\ i\ J. Bell, >T. JT. Buckland, K. Udy. Savage, Gooseman. Betv» een 20 and 30 carriages were on the ground, in which were also many leading citizens. Seigeant-Major Prait was in attendance with half-a-dozen constables in order to regulate the crowd. At 10 minuteb past 4 o'ciock Hi.s Excellency and the Countess of Onslow arrived, accompanied by Captain Saville, A.D.C. Mr Chas. Atkin accompanied Lord Onslow on to the platform. The National Anthem was played as the carriage drove up. As soon as the party had taken their seats, Mr Baitley stepped forward and handed Lady Onslow a beautiful bouquet. Mr Atkin said that his duties that day were pleasurable and simple, as ho had but little to do himself, simply to call upon those who were able and willing to speak to do so. Before he would call upon His Excellency to perform the ceremony of laying the foundation stone he would ask Mr Oliver Mays to give them a brief sketch of the charitable bequest, the object of which they were fulfilling that day. Mr Mays was prepared -to speak, and would do it as briefly as he could. He would give them an outline and comprehensive \iew of what had called them together that day. Mr Oliver Mays said : Your Excellency, ladiesandgentlemen, — Ihavebeen requested by my colleagues on the Hospital Board to take the initiative in these interesting proceedings, and I am fully sensible of the honour they have done me. We are assembled to lay the foundation stone of a home for the aged poor of Auckland. It has often been charged against colonists that they think of nothing but making money and acquiring wealth, and that the higher aims and objects of life are too often ignored or despised. It is quite true that we all come to these shores to improve our condition in life, and that a large portion of our time is necessarily employed in providing for our material welfare. But whilst we have established settlements and founded cities, constructed railways and vast public works, with the enterprise and energy so characteristic of our race, I think anyone who looks around will soon discover that we have not neglected either our religious or moral obligations. Our colony and city are not yet half a century old, and our progress has been but too frequently interrupted and retarted by native troubles and wars. Nevertheless we have founded and maintained scores of splendid churches, chapels, and Sunday-schools without State aid, and I think their number and character hear splendid testimony to the religious zeal and faith of the community, In addition to these, our city is full of institutions for the social, moral, and intellectual advancement of the people, and when we remember that all these are maintained by the voluntary offerings of the people themselves, surely that is a sufficient answer to the charge of avarice. I believe, for the age and size of the city, that no other town in the Australian Colonies can show a better record in this respect than the people of Auckland. And we are proud of our hospitals, our orphan homes, our Museum, our public baths and parks; and above all, our splendid Public Library and Art Gallery. But whilst we are proud of our works as a community, we are still prouder of the acts of public spirit, the large-heartedness and splendid acts of benevolence of many of our citizens. We are proud and grateful to the men who built our Museum and Institute, who founded and maintained our Art Gallery, who established scholarships and bursaries in our Grammar School and our University : and above all, we revere the man who made such a princely gift to our Public Library — Sir George Grey. (Applause. ) All these were men of education and refinement, and high social position ; but our greatest

benefactor was a man of humble origin, of unostentatious life and character, a stranger to politics and the amenities of social life. By tho old-fashioned, virtues of industry, patience, and thrift, ho had amassed a splendid fortune, and wo have learned since his death that he had himself made an informal will bequeathing the whole of his wealth to tho aged poor of this city. He had conceived the idea of making an endowment which he believed would for ever relieve the distressed and guttering poor amongst his follow-colonists in this district. The ultimate disposition of his property ditFeied somewhat from his original plan, and his fortune, about £80,000, was bequeathed in equal parts to the Auckland Hospital, the Old People's Refuge, the Parnell Orphan Home, the Auckland Sailors' Home and the Kohimarama Industrial School. By these splendid bequests all classes of the people benefited — thesick and maimed in our Hospital, the aged and infirm poor, the orphan and the friendless or neglected child, and the student at home and the sailor from abroad. The institution we commence to-day will cosl, completed and furnished, about £8,000, and the balance oi about £5,000 will be invested and the interest applied towards the maintenance of the Home. It Avill provide one-third the whole cost of tho institution, and by care will ultimately yield onehalf Hitherto the wholo cost of tho maintenance of tho 120 old people had been borne by the ratepayers, and it i 3 no small gain to that class to have this annual charge so materially reduced in future, it is to tho memory of our benefactor, Edward Costley, that we ask your Excellency to lay the foundation stono of this building. To the memory of such a man majesty irself may not unworthily do honour. (His Excellency : "Hear, hear.") And though we cannot have Her Majesty in pei son to do us this honour, we have the privilege and happiness ot having in her stead a distinguished member of her Court and Council to perform this office. I am sure that amongst the manifold duties pertaining to your high office you will find no one more popular and more grateful to your feelings than the one with which you have inaugurated your career as Her Majesty's represencative in this colony. 1 have now the honour, on behalf of the Hospital Board and the public of Auckland, to ask your Excellency to lay the foundation of this institution, which shall worthily perpetuate the memory of Edward Costley — one of the truest friends of the poor and distressed, and one of Nature's noblemen, (Loud applause. ) Mr Atkin next said that they had with them that day a British statesman, and tho lepresentative of Her Gracious Majesty the Queen. He felt sure that His Excellency would agree with him that the work bctore them was both an act oi duty, mercy, and love, and that he would not regret having delayed his departure from Auckland a day in order to perform that act. And as the sun is said never to set upon Her Majesty's dominion, even so the Son of Righteousness never sets, but remains and keeps warm in the heart ot Her Majesty a kindly feeling towards the poor. He was therefore glad that her representative; the Earl of Onslow, was present to lay the foundation stone of the Costley Jdome for the Aged Poor. Even in these new lands they had poor. Many ages ago Moses had laid down laws to provide tor the poor, and later on a (i rearer than he had said, "The poor ye havo always with you.' The presence of the poor had warmed the heart of the Anglo-Saxons at many timos and in various, climes to do something towards alleviating poverty. He felt sure that to His Excellency it was a pleasurable act to waive his departure from Auckland in order to be present at thatceremony,and to show that he also had sympathy with the poor. It was therefore his pleasure to ask His Excellency to engago in his pleasuie of laying that foundation stone. (Applause.)