IMPROVING TEE RACE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17708, 17 February 1921, Page 7

IMPROVING TEE RACE.

FOSTERING AUSTRALIA'S BEST

GRAZIER'S REMARKABLE WILL

PETER MITCHELL TRUST.

J Remarkable previsions are contained, in j the will 0 f the late Mr. Peter Mrtebeil. • crazier, of Brmjenbrong, Upper Murray. { -Now South Wales. Hi 5 purpose is j described in the Mowing passage: —" 1 I consider that, although gifts for the benefit of the weak, failing, and sick am : highly praiseworthy and to be commended. i yet more lasting good i 3 to be effected I b J providing means to encourage and fte!p I the capable, healthy, and strong to de- : velop and bring to fruition their natural advantages, and which will act as an incentive to all sane, normal, and healthy persons of berth sex to improve so far a* ! possible their natural mental, mcTrai and I physical conditions, and wdi enable tee j worthiest among them, by a process of j selection and by competitions whereby they shall earn the benehts hereby inI tended, to still further better those conj ditions, develop themselves, broaden their I outlook as citizens of Uie Empire, and so i provide a leaven of str<.;ng, well-balanced, j and self-reliant individualities who, m:xI ing in daily inters ourse with their Idlows, j will tend by the:r example and bv tn» I magnetism of their bright ;,nd healthful I personalili. s to benefit and assist those ! with whor'i they may so daily mis, and 'will also in the natural ourse of eveuU 1 reproduce in future generations those j qualities which they themselves possess." £15,000 a Year for Prizes. After making provision for his widow I and other individuals. Mr. Mitchell directs i that all that remains of the net income i from his estate shall be applied for the i purposes of a trust, to be known as "The I Peter Mitchell Trust." It will bo some time before the trust can come fully into effect, but that the amount of money | which will be available under it will be j large can be judged from the- fact that the • value of the perpetual prizes will probably I average £15,000. The trustees are Messrs'. A. H. Chesterman, of Sydnev, chairman of the Closer Settlement Board; Mr. Jas. j Stephen, of Albury, bank manager; and Mr. W. Q-. Henderson, of Albury, solicitor. j The income from the trust is to be i divided into twenty-one equal parts, I which are to provide prizes as follow: — ; Seven parts: Prizes for the 15 fittest i women, not exceeding 30 years of age, j British subjects, bona-fide residents of the I Commonwealth, members of a= white race, j and not the offspring of first cousins. The trustees are to arrange the conditions of j the competition, hut the following matters j are to be taken into consideration in regard to ea,ch candidate : —

1. Her physical excellence and the goodness of her general health; her freedom from any hereditary taint or disease, particularly of the intellect; her brightness and cheerfulness of disposition and the fact that she is a person who may be calculated generally to bear and rear healthy normal children.

2. Her knowledge and understanding of the main the history of the British Empire apart from the mere, memorising of facts and dates. 3. Her general knowledge of the climate and geography of of the Commonwealth of Australia, and of its main natural products. 4. Her knowledge and understanding of standard English literature, and in particular a sound and appreciative knowledge of the Protestant Bible. 5. Her knowledge of elementary anatomy and physiology and the main functions of the human body, her knowledge of first aid, ana her ability to ride on horseback and to swim. 6. The soundness of her knowledge of practical housekeeping and domestic economy, and of the necessity at all times for clean and sanitary surroundings and conditions, and the best practical means of attaining them, under ordinary circumstances in the said Commonwealth. The main test to which the candidates must be subjected is as follows:— r. Her practical and theoretical knowledge of the nursing (in sickness and health), handling, management, training, care, and rearing to perfect health and strength of babies and young children. Naval and Military Training. Three parte: To provide prizes for Australian military competitions or competitions relating to military training. = Two parts: To provide prizes for Australian naval competitions, cr competitions relating to naval straining. ."" Three parts : To provide prizes , for military competitions or competitions relating to military training, open, to the British Empire. Three parts: To provide prizes for naval competitions or competitions relating to naval training, open to the British Empire. One part: To provide prizes for competition among members of the New South Wales police force, .

Prizes for Young Men. Two parts : To provide prizes -for rien. of the fittest males under the age of 21 years, British subjects and bona-iido residents of Australia, of a white race, and not the offspring of first cousins; of good general health, and free from any hereditary taint or disease, particularly, of the intellect. They must have honourably fulfilled all military obligations imposed upon them by the laws of the Commonwealth. They must be able to swim, to ride a horse,' and to shoot reasonably well with the rifle, according; to standards from time to time prescribed by the trustees. Knowledge of the history of the British Empire and of the history and geography of Australia, of elementary physiology and anatomy, and of standard English literature are ako required.

Standard English Literature. The will contains a list of works, which is subject to revision by his trustees. It includes; the following-.—-Certain books of ths Bible, 11 plays of Shakespere, and named works by Carlyle, Walt. Whitman, Cervantes, Smiles, Dickens, George Eliot, KingEley, Scott's Novels, Stevenson., Harris ( Uncle Remus"), Thackeray, Tripling, Conan Doyle (" White Company "), Charles Read, Macaals.?, Lubbock ( Pleasures of Life "), and 11 of Burns' poems. During the lifetime of the testator's wife the prizes are to be allotted as often as the accumulation of money allows. After the death of Mrs. Mitchell the part of the estate set aside for her benefit is to be devoted to the purpose of the trust. and the prizes then are to be awarded annually.