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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue XXI, 2 April 1884, Page 4

The munificent donation of £3000, made yesterday to the Auckland University College by Mr. Justice Gillies, is one of those incidents -which pleasingly demonstrate that colonial life is not as it is sometimes said to be, wholly engrossed in making money. That colonists are keen in the pursuit of all undertakings which promise to l>e remunerative, may go -without saying, but to; them also, even as to those in the mother country, there pert tains a generosity of soul-whose outflow it only needs a fitting occasion to secure. Most gratifying instances of this feature in their character have been recorded recently in some of the neighbouring colonies, more especially "Victoria and South Australia, -where men. of great wealth have bestowed large sums as endowments for the collegiate institutions of these countries, to the benefit not only of present but of future generations. And, it must be gratifying to'all who are interested in higher' "education to' learn that the example of. the3e public benefactors is beginning to be followed -in New Zealand. It may be said that it is specially creditable to our colony that this liberal spirit has manifested itself so early in itb,.history. In the older colonies referred to the amount of accumulated wealth is very great, arid to not a few of their inhabitants it would be a small matter to grant ten thousand pounds or so for any deserving " purpose. But ' New Zealand ! is comparatively young, and the number of its citizens who can be spoken of as having realised fortunes is comparatively very small; and even amongthese there is not one perhaps entitled to be regarded as a millionaire. We think we may safely say that Mr. Justice j Gillies does not look upon himself aslj taking that rank among monied men.f No precise information regarding thef extent of-his means is possessed, by us£ but we have the impression that are men in New Zealand -who can, boast of greater opulence than, from' this his generous gift, he might be supposed to possess. He' is therefore deserving of the greater commendation' in being, nevertheless, the first, so fir as we are aware, to devot'j- on an enlarged scale, a portion of his possessions to the very praiseworthy object of enabling-promising, colonial youths of limited means to obtain the benefits of a University education. In this he has furnished a pattern of generous considerateness -which, on the part of 6Ei>se of greater wealth, may be imitated with advantage, not only to the colony but also to themselves as well. |; Themselves, -we say, for it must, -we imagine, be a source of peculiar gratification to a man of generous heart to witness the benefit which his. generosity may be instrumental in conferring on his fellow creatures. The comm f on idea entertained by the possessors of great substance,- when .inclined to devote the whole or part thereof to some-philan-thropic purpose, is to make their intention operative only after theic decease. This may be attributed to a variety of feelings, such as unwillingness during their lifetime to part with tie control and enjoyment of that which they love to call their ownj or a sensitiveness that shrinks | from the notoriety, which the giving immediate effect to their liberal 'impulses might bring to them, or a jrish to allow the property bequeathed to accumulate in value, as much las possible, and in the'long run constitute a foundation worthy of a name. But all such considerations as may be thus suggested against giving -Effect to the generous purpose of a benefactor while he 13 yet alive are more/or less of an obviously morbid character. They are devoid of health, and fail to contribute their proper portion to Jthe fulness of: life. For meanwhile.the philanthropic objects contemplated are not being fur : thered as they otherwise would be, may, in fact,- be languishing and ready to die for want of a little help, while at -the /same time the patrons that are to | be are denied the rich pleasure Jwhich .may be' derived from reaping, the harvest of good intentions in beholding the. benefits resulting from jtheir timely fulfillment enjoyed by those they were meant for. This satisfaction, if- he be spared, as'. we trust he long may be, is what j awaits Mr. Justice f Gillies. And even l if, in Vtheuncertainty of; life, it should be denied him to see any of " the fortunate recipients of jthose scholarships he bias supplied the means of establishing,

his will still be the enjoyment which • without fail xnust corne, .of ~the convic- : tion that, from the moment his generous intention was matured, it was made available for-the. public good. This, ia is enjoyment; ami, if others among : our -monied mea or—-let -.us i in< -this - -instance-.- reverentially say—monied • women, shodd be indaced by the prospect of experiencing it, to follow, Mr. Justice Gillies' example, it would not l>e long ere we should possess in Auckland spacious College buildings, as well as ample College: '-'endowments. Bat, if the pleasure thus derivable should form at all "an object of desirft with any who may intend to become benefactors to the College, or any other public in. stituiion,it would be well for them to take action on. their: desires as early as possible. - For to them, as it did to one whose name is so closely and pathetically associated with the donation now in question, death may suddenly come and do his sad work ere yet their benevolent wishes have, had opportunity of being fulfilled. It is permissible and becoming to remark that there seems a peculiar appropriateness in the names by which the/: scholarships^-provided by this foundation are- to be known, &nd also in the departments of' University instruction with which they are to be identified; The memories of the two persons whose place in' colonial history they are meant to perpetuate will affectionately be. treasured by" the large circle of ' friends who had the pleasure of associating with them as patrons of j all" pursuits" that tended to* bring the colony -into notice, and when those who knew, them have all followed them into 'the unseen, the succeeding generations will learn from these scholarships, that even ,in its earliest days, New Zealand was not wholly devoid of friends to culture and science. As all the old settlers will remember, Dr. Sinclair, while holding the .office of Colonial Secretary, devoted his/ leisure hours to the' collecting of specimens of all plants indigenous to the. coloay,. and regularly forwarded his collections to the scientific authorities in London for the benefit of all inquirers., It was, indeed, while engaged in this self-imposed devotion, in connection with'a scientific expedition directed by. Herr, now Professor, "Von Haasfcjof Canterbury, .that he came to an untimely, end, having, been drowned while attempting to cross the Bangitata, whose banks were consecrated by his grave. ; It is eyery" way meet and fittingjthat scientific devotion such as his should be kept alive in the history of thefcolony, so that many in years yet to coine may . encouraged to follow in' the path .' which he so unselfioliiy pursued ; and Mr. Justice Gillies has nobly done .his part in providing the means by which young men or- young -women so inclined may become similarly distinguished.