MR J. T. THOMSON AND HIS FRIENDS.

Southland Times, Issue 641, 8 March 1867, Page 2

MR J. T. THOMSON AND HIS FRIENDS.

(TO THE EDITOE OF THE sottthiand times). Sir, — Examples of disinterested benevolence and pure-souled patriotism ought to be recorded. Allow me — through your medium — to advert to a noble illustration. But that benevolence of this class seeks to "do good by stealth, and blushes to find it fame," I would be lavish in my enconium : a few words shall suffice to tell the tale of selfsacrifice by a large-hearted man, the floodgates of whose affection have been opened by (it may be) his own experience of " the battle of life." It will be remembered that Mr J. T. Thomson (whose income from his leased property in and around Invercargill never, I believe, realized more than £5,000 per annum) regarding the depressed state of the Province two years since, temporarily reduced the rents of his tenants to onehalf their original sum. It is not, however, generally known — whether from a belief in the vastly improved present condition of trade, or from what cause — he now proposes a return to " original rent" perhaps as a lesson in economy, and fearing a repetition of the ; recklessness of former days, when money came in freely. As an alternative, while ( gently adverting to his sacrifice in the * past, as a proof of the sympathetic yearn-. - ings of his heart with his fellow-man, he * submits for the approval of his ] tenants a few " conditions" in that off- < hand style so characteristic) of great

will render the "temporary reduction" a permanent one. ;To these ," conditions" jl will refer, on the ; principle of honour to | whom honour is due, of not by way o£v . paying to other landlords ." Go and A. do likewise." It is fitting that Southland -' \ and New Zealand should hear of patriotic devotedness, and learn that a mind bent on good will not be deterred by its' cost. In these " conditions," starting from premises inferring abandonment of the lease? already in existence, containing • arrangements for valuation to tenants at expiration, and the execution of new leases shortened in their extent by four years, Mr Thomson, with a naiveness and simplicity truly refreshing, says :- — " No valuation at end of lease, but to be handed over to J. T. Thomson or his agent." He (Mr T.) may have observed, and wish to correct, the folly of regarding a lease as a property or fund to the tenant ; and, possibly to relieve his tenant from undue, anxiety about fire, or the custody of. valuable documents, he says: — Premises to be insured by tenant in name of JY T.v Thomson, and insurance documents to be lodged with J. T. Thomson or his agent. In case of premises being destroyed by - fire to be reinstated" (it is to be presumed by the tenant's accumulated fund from reduced rental), " and insurance money paid on completion." Lest, however, this extreme of liberalism should induce a precipitate rush on the part of his tenants, or with the view of teaching that "if 'twere well done, 'twere well 'twere done quickly ;" or it may be to convey a salutary dread of the frailty of human nature, and to hint at the possibility of even a " Thomson " swerving from the chalked line, he says:-— "No committal of J. T. Thomson till new lease is signed. Leases to be drawn put by Macdonald and Eussell " (my own lawyers, as it happens) "at tenant's cost." Ignorant or selfish tenants may, perhaps, imagine that, by accepting these conditions as the basis of the reduction of rent,;they will pay " too dear for their whistle:" they may even think that the " conditions " savour of a desire on Mr" Thomson's part to get his tenants improvements for nothing, and to< obtain them earlier than under the original lease. I hope I shall not be suspected of harbouring such a thought, and simply say, for myself and others of Mr Thomson's tenants alive to their own interests, and capable of appreciating a noble action performed in a delicate way, that, but for his somewhat abrupt departure an early opportunity would have been taken for a graceful recognition of Mr Thomson's kindness and patriotism by a seranade or some other fitting demonstration in his honor.— l am, &c, A Tenant of Me J. T. Thomson.