NAVAL SCHOOL ENDOWMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20307, 15 July 1929, Page 14

NAVAL SCHOOL ENDOWMENT.

Sir, —Tn thanking you for your obituary notice of Mrs. G. S. Reade's death, contained in your issue of Monday, July 8. may I be permitted to correct an error of statement which has now crept the world over. The Holbrook property in Suffolk was given and transferred to the Admiralty many years ago for the purpose stated. The endowment, though a large sum of money, does not amount _ to £1,000,000. tliough rapidly approaching, say, half that figure—but if the appropriations and restrictions of my will are carried out, which I am assured they will be, under trust for a given period, and thereafter carried on. doubtless the fund will approximate and quite likely exceed the sum mentioned. Perhaps this is the basis of the error, now so often repeated as to become stereotyped. I am most unwillingly forced to correct such statement, but it seems to have taken deep hold now the world over. May I express a sense of deep appreciation and grateful thanks that the funeral ceremony was attended by Lieutenant Westmacott, R.N., and 12 ratings representing His Majesty's Navv of New Zealand, and doubtless the Empire Navy. My grateful thanks are also duo to Commodore Swabey and all officers of the Fleet. Last, but not least, to the band of ratings who so nobly bore one of their benefactors to her last" rest. May I take this opportunity of thanking the many friends who have either by letter, wire or cable, sent me their sympathy and condolences, asking them to accept my very grateful thanks, finding it impossible in my present state of health to reply to each individually. Last year you were good enough to give me tho refuge of your columns, bv stating that having given my nil to the Navy I now have nothing more to give, limiting myself to a small, strictly prescribed income within which I liavo to live. A flood of begging letters have restarted, painful for mc to receive, knowing that 1 have nothing loft to assuage doubtless many pitiable cases. G. S. IvEADE.