THE LEYS INSTITUTE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 784, 30 March 1905, Page 3

THE LEYS INSTITUTE.

A GENEROUS BEQUEST. (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, March 29. This afternoon tie Leys Institute in Ponsonby was opened by the Hon.. E. Mitchelson. Mayor of Auckland. It was founded in the terms of a bequest made by tht late William Leys, formerly chairman of the Ponsonby School Committee, wh 0 died in October, 1899. He directed that the surplus of his estate, after provision for his family, should be accumulated till there was sufficient to erect a brick building not to cost less than £2OOO, and equip the same as an institute in the nature of a free 'library and mechanics' institute, and if possible pay £IOO a year to the City Council towards its maintenance The institute .will be very well endowed, for the jphole. of William Leys' estate will eventually be conveyed to the city ■ lor its special benefit.: Towards the end of 1903 the residents of Ponsonby urged ,on the Council the erecUon_..'of a free library and readingroom.- The library committee ascertained there was little chance of bringing into existence at that time the Leys' Institute, for the moneys ~ available were insufficient. In order therefore to inaugurate the institute at once one of the trustees, Thomson W, Leys, offered to contribute to the trust one half the cost of. erecting and equipping the building, awd he . also undertook to provide it with a library if the Council found a' suitable site. The. offer was gladly accepted, and a contract was let for £2582.; The total cost of the building and equipment is estimated at £3OOO, excluding the value of a largo, library Mr T. W, Leys has presented'.