"REST AN' BE THANKFU'"

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 93, 16 October 1914, Page 2

"REST AN' BE THANKFU'"

BEQUEST TO CITY AND SUBURBS BY tt LATE MR. JOHN NEWTON. At the meeting of the City Council last evening a letter was read from Messrs. Young and Tripe, solicitors, stating they were requested by the trustees in the estate of the late Mr. John Newton — Messrs. A. W. Newton, D. Lynneberg, H. E. Nicholls, and J. A. Tripe — to inform the council that under the terms of the will of the late deceased provision had been made for the construction and obtaining o,f 250 seats made of wood and iron and of such design as the trustees might select provided that each seat should be of such size as might be necessary for the comfortable seating of six adult persons. Upon each seat provision was to be made for the casting in iron of the words "Rest an 1 be thankfu'. N." Under the terms of the will the seats were to be offered wholly or partly to the corporation of the city of Wellington, and partly to such other corporation or local body as might have its boundaries adjoining the boundaries of the city. The trustees had absolute power of selection, but prior to making any _ selection or contracting for the making of such seats it was a condition precedent that the corporation or local body to which the seats were given would undertake to keep the same in good order and repair to the satisfaction of the trustees. The trustees, the letter continued, had considered the matter very carefully and had i come to the conclusion that the following would be a fair division of the number of seats bequeathed : . Wellington Corporation 160, Onslow 30, Karori 20, Miramar 30, Day's Bay Park 10. The letter added : "Might we ask you that you give i the matter your consideration, and advise us whether you are prepared to accept the gift of the late Mr. Newton upon the terms indicated?" The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) moved that "the very .handsome gift" be accepted, and that letters of thanks be sent to the trustees and the son, Mr. Alec Newton ; also that the other arrangements be left in the hands of the Finance Committee with power to act. Councillor R. Fletcher, in seconding the motion, said that he had had the pleasure of being personally acquainted with the late Mr. Newton, who wae one of the worthiest 'citizens that Wellington had ever had. The motion was carried unanimously.