MAGNIFICENT HOME

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 9 March 1935, Page 7

MAGNIFICENT HOME

“St. Leonard’s” Donated for Use of Crippled Children

GENEROUS AUCKLAND CITIZEN

THIRTEEN ACRES ON COAST (By Telegraph' —Press Association.) AUCKLAND, March 8. Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Wilson’s home “St. Leonard’s,” which has been given for the use of crippled children, is one of the largest and finest residential properties in the suburbs of Auckland. It is situated above the cliffs immediately south of Takapuna. Beach, and has long frontages to the sea. The large, single storey house commands a wonderful panorama of Rangitoto Channel, the Hauraki Gulf, and the whole coastline from Tititiri to North Head. The 13 acres of grounds are beautifully laid out in terraced lawns, gardens, .shrubberies and groves of po-i hutnkawas, Norfolk Island pines and other; trees. A path gives access to a private bathing beach. The»e is ample room upon the property for all the buildings needed to’create a children’s hospital or a home of considerable si so. The greatest enthusiasm greeted the announcement at the luncheon to

Lord Nuffield of two further splendid gifts for crippled children. The Mayor

of Auckland, Mr. G. W. Hutchison, made it known that Mr. and Mrs Wilson had offered to present their home. “St. Leonard’s,” Takapuna, with its 1-1 acres of grounds, for a. crippled children's home, subject to the creation of ,an endowment. Lord Nuffield, thereupon announced that he would supplement his previous gift of £50,000 by a further £IO,OOO to form the nucleus of a Dominion endowment

fund. “I can sense in the community a desire to show Lord Nuffield that his magnificent gift is appreciated, and to show it in practical form,” said Mr. Hutchison. “I therefore intend .to open a list so that members of the public may be able to express their thankfulness for Lord Nuffield’s generous gift. Ido not know what is proposed in other centres, but I am encouraged to do this by representations that- have already been made to me. Yesterday a gentleman called upon me and said he and histwif© had been ‘deeply touched by Lord Nuffield’s generosity and by what Dr. Bernard Myers had said in an address to the Botary Club about the efforts being made in London for the aftercare of- crippled children in, garden -homes. He told me that he had discussed the matter with his wife and they had decided to offer, subject to the raising of the necessary endowment fund for its upkeep, their 'home for such a purpose.” (Laud applause). “This may not perhaps seem a- groat thing,” continued the Mayor, “buf? when I tell you, the property is none other, than the beautiful old home of Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, of Takapuna', you will realise .’’The remainder of the sentence was drowned in prolonged applause.

“It must have required considerable thought even to decide to make such a wonderful gift,” said Mr. Hutchison, when ho was allowed to resume. “It means that two people, who have arrived at a stage in. life when they would naturally desire to live quietly in their beautiful home, will walk out of it. When you think of that you will realise the greatness of the gift that is offered. I know that you and citizens generally will make it possible for us to accept the offer. The endowment that is stipulated is not a large sum—merely enough to ensure that, when the property passes out of the owner’s possession, it will not be allowed to deteriorate, or be used for other purposes that for which dt was given.” LORD NUFFIELD ADDS £10,003. Lord Nuffield, in his subsequent speech ,took an early opportunity to remark upon the offer. “I am quite overwhelmed with the charity of Mr. and Mrs. Wilson,” he said. “It is remarkable that these two people should bo prepared to walk out of one of the most beautiful homes in the world (size does not matter) after living there, as I presume, for many years. Their hearts must have been stirred by what has been done, but they could not have been stirred by anything better. The cause of crippled children has now become a national matter, and there is talk of endowments. Since Mr. and Mrs Wilson have been so generous, I should like to make an offer of £lO,000 to start an endowment fund for the whole of New Zealand.” Lord Nuffiield’s announcement, which was made almost with diffidence, was received with loud applause. Following the announcement by the Mayor of Auckland that he intends to open a subscription, list for the Do-, minion criopled children’s fund, Mr. O. J. B. Norwood, who has been entrusted by Lord Nuffield with the control of the funds presented by him for the benefit of crippled children in New Zealand, sent the following telegram to the mayors of all cities and towns in New Zealand: “Lord Nuffield in sneech to-day at Auckland hoped that all mavnrs would open fund tn siroplement his national, nift of £60.000 toward crippled children. Will you agree? Press support assured.”