HOME FOR ORPHANS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19947, 15 November 1926, Page 12

HOME FOR ORPHANS.

FULFILMENT OF A BEQUEST SOME UNIQUE PROVISIONS. JFbom Odb Own Cobbespondent.) WELLINGTON, November 13. During the past week the Watt estate property, opposite the post office, at the corner of the Avenue and Ridgway street, was sold for £30,000, and this big deal now clears the way for the fulfilment of the bequest made by Mr W. H. Watt some years ago. According to the will of deceased, it had been his intention of bequeathing valuable land containing 52 acres at Mosstown, aclj cent to the Belmont golf links, to his daughter Margaret. Unfortunately, Miss Watt was drowned when a passenger in the ship Avalanche on her return to her native country in consequence of a collision with another vessel in the English Channel on September 11, 1877, and on account of his great love for his daughter Mr Watt decided to perpetuate her memory in her native town and district of Wanganui by establishing an asylum for orphans born within the North Island of New Zealand on the same laud which he purposed devising to her. There are some unique provisions in the ill. The testator directs that “there shall be erected on some part of the highest land and maintained in proper repair a flagstaff, and there shall be always provided and < kept a flag of the pattern of St. George’s ensign with the letters ‘M.W.O.H.’ worked thereon. This flag must be hoisted on every Sabb-th morning at 8 o’clock and kept flying during the day until sundown and at such times as the trustees may think fit, and such flag shall also be hoisted half-mast high on September 11 each year.” It is further directed that the institution and estate shall be called the “Margaret Watt Orphans’ Home.” The conditions imposed by the testator are as under: —

1. The food shall be good, plentiful, and of wholesome quality. 2. The dress of the boys shall be of naval pattern similar to that worn by boys in the training ships in the colony—blue jackets and trousers on week days and white trousers on Sabbath days, with a ribbon round their hats on which the words “Margaret Watt” shall be inscribed. 3. The dress of the girls shall be a uniform in such fashion or pattern as the trustees may think fit. 4. Both boys and girls are to be taught reading, writing, and arithmetic, and the boys in addition are to receive such instruction as will fit them for commercial occupations. 5. All children desiring it shall be taught music and singing and so soon as is practicable a band of the boys shall be formed. 6. The girls so soon as may be are to be taught so as to form or take part in a class for singing in the choir of the Presbyterian Church of St. Paul or place of worship elsewhere with the consent of the trustees. 7. The children are to be employed in industrial pursuits when practicable without detriment to their education — the boys in agriculture or gardening, for which purpose a portion of the trust estate may be apportioned; the girls in domestic pursuits, such as needlework, washing, and cooking, in some measure to relieve the income of the institution from such expenses, yet more with a view to disciplining the children. 8. Religion shall be taught to all the children in accordance with the doctrines of the Presbyterian Church, “but where any legal or other good objection thereto shall exist then the children in respect thereto shall be sent every Sabbath morning to such other Protestant church or place of worship as his or her surviving parent or legal guardian may desire except where such surviving parent shall have deserted the child.” 9. The children are to be retained at the establishment until they attain the age of 15 years, “unless the trustees shall think that any may before that age be apprenticed or placed in some advantageous position.” 10. No corporal punishment beyond the light cane shall be allowed unless with the. direct sanction in writing of the trustees. 11. The strictest propriety and honourable conduct towards each other shall be inculcated and encouraged. 12. Any boy or girl guilty of a breach of discipline or dishonest or dishonourable conduct shall be tried by a jury of sis of the eldest children of his or her own sex at the establishment, with the principal or eldest of the teachers for president. Unless any of such six shall be in any way connected with the charge against the offender, the jury shall decide whether the accused be guilty or not, and if guilty shall suggest the punishment to be inflicted and report to the principal 13. Each child shall, on leaving the establishment, if he or she has conducted himself or herself property, be paid a sum of £lO towards providing an outfit. 14. The term “orphan” shall apply to a child who has lost both father and mother or who may have been deserted by his or her parents, or whose surviving parent or guardian has, in the opinion of the trustees, no means to provide for the child’s maintenance. 15. There shall, if possible, always be one of testator’s descendants of the name of Watt a trustee of the establishment.