University School Of Forestry

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31750, 6 August 1968, Page 16

University School Of Forestry

Sir, —Now that we are to have a school of forestry perhaps the university could explain why an earlier gift was neglected. In 1919 the late T. W. Adams bequeathed to Canterbury University College 100 acres of land containing his plantations and orchards, and $4OOO cash “to be used as the nucleus of a school of forestry.” His collections, 1 which represented 40 years of importing and studying trees, were then the finest and most comprehensive in New Zealand and were presented to the university in the hope that they might be preserved and his records and achievements be of future benefit to others. The fact that the university has ignored his request is bad enough, but the way in which his fine collection has been neglected and finally mutilated by a bulldozer is little more than an insult to his life’s work and shows little gratitude for his generosity. —Yours, etc, GREAT-GRANDSON. July 31, 1968. [Professor N. C. Phillips, Vice-Chancellor and Rector of

the University of Canterbury, replies: “The university has been properly conscious of the very generous bequest of the late Mr T. W. Adams since it was made in 1919. A School of Forestry was established in 1924, but with the withdrawal of Government support in the. early 1930 s the university was unable to continue financing operations. Income from the Adams property has been funded continuously since the school was closed and held in trust for use in the re-establish-ment of the School of Forestry which is shortly to become a' reality on the Ilam site. The original bequest of $4OOO through judicious investment now stands quadrupled. The collection of trees has been preserved by the university, but it is unfortunate that some planted by the late Mr Adams 'have proved to be unsuited to local conditions. General maintenance required the use of a bulldozer, but the university authorities are unaware of any mutilation or damage to trees during this work. Your correspondent may be assured that the T. W. Adams bequest will prove a valued asset in the establishment of the new school.”]