A Fine Bequest.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16546, 11 June 1919, Page 6

A Fine Bequest.

The bequest bv the late Mr T. W. Adams to Cantcrburv College is in itself an admirable example of the pub-lic-spirited generosity for which the chairman of the College Board of Governors pleaded when he lately drew a comparison between the benefactions received on the one hand by Canterbury College and on the other by its sister colleges in the Dominion. But lit is particularly welcome on account of its practical value and of the farsighted wisdom which inspired it. Mr Adams, as is well known, made a hobby of tree-planting, and more especially of tree acclimatisation. For many years his fine plantations at Oreendale have been an experimental station in arboriculture. He collectAd trees from all parts of the temperate '/.ones, not only for the pleasure of' forming a great collection, but also in order to test their suitableness for New Zealand', and his successes in acclimatisation far outnumbered his failures. fie recognised the need of a proper system of forestry in New Zealand long before it was generally realised, and now that he has gono, the fruit of his labours has, in accordance with what was apparently his longhfcld intention, passed into the possession of the College, in order that the Board may have -the means for establishing under most favourable conditions a School of Forestry among the. trees lie loved bo well. Upon the Board lies the responsibility of taking up the trust thus placed in theii; hands and fulfilling the wish of the donor. That they will do. so is undoubted. Forestry is a science the value and importance of which are now much better understood than was the case during most of the long period in which Mr Adams was pioneering the way, and the possession of a School of Forestry will give further distinction to the College and should prove of inestimable benefit, not only to Canterbury, but to I the Dominion, in future years.