STRANGE BEQUEST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20252, 11 May 1929, Page 11

STRANGE BEQUEST.

RECTOR'S GIFT OF £BOOO. KNICKERBOCKERS FOR BOYS. [FHOJI OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.'] LONDON. April 5. A bequest of nearly £BOOO to purchase y knickerbockers for boys, "and for no other purpose-whatsoever, whether educational or otherwise," hks been left by the Rev. John Gwyon, rector of Bisley, Surrey, for 33 years. Mr. Gwyon's estate has been sworn at £9976 gross, with net personalty £7974. By his will he left' the whole of his estate for the foundation of a charitable trust, to be known as "Gwyon's Foundation for Clothing Boys," the trustees to be members of Farnham District Council. "The yearly income of' the foundation shall bo applied for the . purpose of providing boys who are eligible with knickers." Benefits of the fund are confined to

boys between 13 and 18, the sons of parents residing in Farnham or within three miles of the Farnham urban district boundary. Black boys are disqualified, as are also boys who are inmates

of or supported by any charitable institution or whose parents are in receipt of parochial relief. As to the making and distribution of

the garments, Mr. Gwyon directed:—"The committee shall in Easter week in each year appoint a tailor, who shall, in the opinion of such committee, give the best

value for money consistent with durability. He shall either make the garments to measure, or shall provide ready-

made garments. Every, boy who shall be eligible shall send his name and address, with his exact age, to the tailor not less than six . weeks before Whit Sunday in each year, and the tailor shall forward

all particulars to the chairman of the committee of the said foundation, who shall then within five weeks convene a meeting of the committee to select eligible

applicants. Sporting or fancy knickers of any kind are not to. be supplied, "and in no case shall the knickers be of the pattern known as shorts." Mr. Gwyon suggested a strong, soft, and dark brown cord as being very becoming for boys, adding, "but I desire to leave the kind and colour

open for discreet choice." The gift is not confined to a single year; a boy may make a second application. As to the garments themselves, the vicar provided:—"The words Gwyon s Present' shall be written in capital letters by the tailor with black marking ink on the lining of the right waist of each pair of knickers, which lining mus be of unbleached material, and no bo/ shall tear away the words or obliterate them so that they become undecipherable by the time he applies in the following year." " A boy, if he prefers, may choose a pair of trousers, "which shall be strong, serviceable, and durable material, lined throughout to tho ankles with strong, unbleached material, which shall bo sewn to the trousers, and not allowed to hang loose." . ,