A PIONEER BENEFACTO.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 190, 12 August 1919, Page 4

A PIONEER BENEFACTO.

Jt is interesting to turn from the career of Andrew Carnejie 10 that of .Samuel McCaughcy, the great Australian pastoralisl. who diod recently. Last week we commented upon the splendid bequests left by this pioneer millionaire to the universities of Sydney and Brisbane, and contrasted them and other

Australian gifts fur university education with the failure of New Zealand's wealthy men to realise their responsibilities in this direction. Since then particulars of Sir i-amuel McCttlighey's will have arrived liy mail, and the document proves to bo even more interesting than

was indicated in our cable messages. Samuel MeCaughey was a, pioneer pastoralist, who attained groat wealth by his industry and judgment. He was the. greatest experimental ibreeder in Australia, and the improvements in wool and mutton that he brought, about must have added many millions to the wealth of the country. an irrigationist he was a benefactor of Australia. But it is not as a pioneer wlio made two blades of grass grow, or two sheep feed, in place of one, that we wish to write about Samuel McCaughey, so much as the framer of a. will on large and enlightened lines. It is estimated that Sydney University will receive £405.000, and Brisbane University £230,000 from the estate. The Presbyterian Church, to which the testator belonged, will get £212,000, and 14(15,000 is left to helping Australian soldiers and sailors arid their families. These, with legacies amounting to £230,000, are the principal totals in the will. There are many other bequests, ranging from £5,000 to £20,000, to religious, educational and charitable bodies, and in looking down the list one is struck by the breadth of the giver's sympathies. A North of Ireland Presbyterian, he naturally thought firet of his own Church, and endowed its religious ami educational activities very liberally. But he also gave £10,000 each to the Sydney Grammar School, the North Sydney Church of England Grammar School, the Cranbrook Church of -England Grammar School, Newington College (Methodist), and the King's School, Tarramatta. Five thousand pounds goes to the Salraxion Army. Samuel JlcCaughey comes well th<ou<rh the two of wealth we mentioned above—better than Andrew Carncirie. The large, land-owning class to which he belonged have their fault*, like all other clashes of rich men. and under certain condition* are a hindrance to the progress of the country, lie may have had some of these faults, and some of his great holdings may have retarded closer settlement. But it i* unquestion able that, as a pioneer and a skilled paatoralwt he did great development work, and both in his lifetime and after his death he prove-d himself a wise and very generous distributor of his great wealth. He realised that wealthy men owed it to the community in which and through whose help they had made their money, to return a considerable part of that iioney for the public pood. The conscience of mankind is coining to hol'.l that the pos.-i«(*ion of {front wpalth i> ethically justified only by thp Usn made of it. \\c draw attention to the Me,CaugllP.V will because of its recognition of wealth* obligation, and because it ia au example to othjjr wealthy ruen..