£60,000 FOR CATHEDRAL

Evening Star, Issue 22026, 11 May 1935, Page 25

£60,000 FOR CATHEDRAL

GIFT TO AUCKLAND DIOCESE fPek United Press Association.] • '' AUCKLAND, May 10. By a public-spirited bequest of approximately £60,000 provided in the will of Miss Mina Tait Horton, 'of Romuera, whoso death occurred on May 3, the early commencement of a permanent Anglican cathedral for Auckland is assured. A condition of the bequest is that the cathedral shall bo erected on a site in Parnell bought for the purpose by Bishop Selwyn 92,years ago. Competitive designs must be called for and the building commenced within 10 years from the date of Miss Horton’s death. The site referred to, which has been for the original purpose ever since Bishop Selwyn purchased it, consists of six acres and a-half of land with frontages to Parnell road, St. Stephen’s avenue, and Brighton road. It is opposite the present St. Mary’s Cathedral and includes the site of the Parnell Lawn Tennis Club’s courts. Alias Horton’s will directs that her residuary estate, which it is estimated will amount to £60.000, after the payment of duties, shall be divided by her trustees into four parts. One of these is made subject to a life interest, and the other three, with the accumulated income, are to be held by trustees for a cathedral building fund, and are to be paid to the General Trust Board of the Auckland Diocese when certain conditions have been fulfilled. On the termination of the life interest, the remaining fourth part is to be paid over in the same way.

The will further directs the trustees, when they are satisfied that a cathedral is to be built on the Parnell site, to pay out of the trust fund a sum not exceeding £I,OOO for tho accepted competitive design for the cathedral. The design must be accepted by the General Trust Board or other controlling authority within seven years of the testator’s death, and the building must be commenced within 10 years of her death. If these conditions are not fulfilled or if the trustees are not satisfied at the end-of 10 years that the building will be properly carried on to a completed state, the bequest (except as regards payment for the design if, one has been accepted) shall lapse, and the residuary estate shall he held by the trustees upon . certain other trusts specified in the will. The erection of an Anglican cathedral worthy of the largest city in New Zealand lias been an aspiration for many years past, .but until the announcement of Miss Horton’s bequest if has not been within measurable distance of realisation. A DREAM REALISED. “ This wonderful gift will enable the qliurch to realise the vision of Bishop Selwyn, a vision which many Auckland church people have held since his day,” said Archbishop Avcrill, commenting upon Miss Horton’s bequest. “ The idea of beginning the erection of a cathedral upon the historic site in Parnell lias been in my mind ever since I became Bishop of Auckland 21 years ago, and naturally it is most gratifying that in my sliver jubilee year this vision should be brought within reach of realisation.'

“ At the same time 1 would emphasise very strongly that the cathedral which Miss Horton's beneficence will enable ns to begin should properly' be considered as an institution in which the whole public will have an interest. The church which we hope to erect, standing as it will upon the commanding site which Bishop Selwyn’s foresight chose for it nearly a century ago, will be a worthy addition to the buildings which a city like Auckland should possess and a landmark for every ship that enters the Auckland Harbour. It will be in no’sense a private church, but in a very large degree it will belong to, the public. We hope that it wjjl be a meeting place for all Christian people and a real centre for the religions life* of Auckland.

“ The realisation of our hopes comes at a most appropriate time, for in 1940 Auckland will celebitite the centenary of its foundation, and two years later that of the arrival df Bishop Selwyn. If possible, I should very much like the cathedral to be associated with the city’s centenary and the laying of its foundation stone made part of the celebrations., There could hardly be a more fitting occasion, and I think Auckland would gladly accept such a ceremony as an important part of the festival. “Wo will take steps at once to appeal to the public for gifts to augment this verv generous benefaction, for it will depifnd to a very large extent upon the interest of the citizens whether the dream of a worthy cathedral is realised to the full. I hope the Diocesan Svnod, when it meets in October, will set up a strong committee to take the matter in hand as soon ns possible.