GIFT OF A MILLION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13762, 29 May 1908, Page 5

GIFT OF A MILLION.

m KING'S HOSPITAL FUND. By Telegraph.—Pree« Association.—Copyright. London, May 27. Lord Mount-Stephen, former head of the Canadian Pacific Railway, has given the King's Hospital fund another £7000 a year, making his total contribution over £30,000 a year, or, capitalised, over a million sterling. He advises the Finance Committee if they decide on changing securities in which his contributions are now invested not to re-invest in trustee securities. Lord Mount Stephen has had one of the most romantic careers in the peeragt. He was bom in Dufftown, in Scotland, in 1829, and began life as a herd-boy. Later on, be became a drapers, assistant in Aberdeen, and at the age- of 21 emigrated to Canada, where he hat* since become famous in connection with the Canadian-Pacific railway. In recognition of his valuable services he was made a baronet in 1886, and live years later was raised to the peerage. Lord Mount Stephen's princely charities are well known, his splendid gift to tha King's Hospital Fund having earned for him the gratitude of the whole country. Although Lord Mount Stephen has been twice married, he has no children. Many yeatvs ago, however, he adopted a little girl, who is now the wife of Lord Xortlicote, Governor-General of Australia. Lord Mount Stephen, in spite of his great success, has never forgotten anyone who has helped him along in hie career. When, he was a shepherd-boy. the minister of the district used to give him many words of encouragement, and endeavour to make his lonely work on the hillside as cheerful as he possibly could. Young George Stephen, as* he then was, determined at the time that he would one day rewarc* this kindness, and years afterwards, when he had become a famous man, his thoughts reverted to the consoler of his boyhood's day. To show his gratitude to his old friend, lie gave him a handsome annuity, besides endowing a fund of many thousand pounds to enable every parish minister on the Spevside to have a minimum income of £100 "a vear.