"A NEW ZEALAND ETON."

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 79, 3 April 1911, Page 6

"A NEW ZEALAND ETON."

(To the Editor.) Sir, —I was much interested in the report appearing under above heading , of a meeting held 'by the King's College Old Boys' Association, at which it was stated that the school had expanded , and progressed to such an extent that it was quite beyond the strength and capacity of any one individual to effectively control; also, that an offer: had been made by Mr. Major to transfer the school gratuitously to a selected body of citizens, with the object of increasing the efficiency and usefulness of this already widely-known, and muchappreciated institution. If the suggestion of the Principal .can' be carried out,'and there surely can be little doubt of that, it will exercise a most important and far-reaching effect, upon the future of this Dominion, and the proposal deserves the earnest and whole-hearted support of every loyalNew Zealander. One has only to call to mind the numbers of old Etonians who have distinguished themselves in the realms of literature, science and art, and the gallant soldiers, sailors, and diplomatists who have 'brodght and kept Britain in the forefront of the nations, to realise what a vital influence such an institution exercises in the world's history. The patriotism and ptrblic-spirited-ness of the King's College authorities is beyond all praise, and in this cqnnec tion I venture to make a suggestion, which, I hope, may find favour. In the, last paragraph of your report, I notice that it is proposed to require 20 or 30 acres as a site for the new Eton, and 1 it occurred, to mc that possibly the public spirit so laudably displayed by the Principal might find an echo elsewhere, and that the present proprietors of i Alexandra Park, in view of the national importance of the scheme, might he willing to forego the considerable profit they expect to derive by cutting up this splendid area, and accept a much less price from the promoters of this much-to4)e-desired consummation. I can imagine no more suitable home ■for our "New Zealand Eton."—l am, etc.,' • CIYIS.