£10,000 BEQUEST.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 561, 26 November 1915, Page 10

£IO,OOO BEQUEST.

m FOR WINTER GARDENS. A CITIZEN'S GENEROSITY. LATE MR C. A. C. CUNINGHAM'S ESTATE. LEFT TO CHRISTCHURCH DOMAINS BOARD. Under the will of the late Mr C. A. C. Cuningham, a bequest, which amounts to nearly £IO,OOO, has been made to the Christchurch Domains Board, to erect and furnish winter gardens in the Christchurch Domain. The bequest is subject to a legacy of £4OO, and a life interest to deceased's elder brother. It has long been the ambition of Christchurch to possess a winter garden, which would be a feature of the picturesquely situated Domain Gardens. Hitherto financial considerations have presented a serious difficulty, and the Domains Board, with its limited revenue, has not been able to* put a comprehensive scheme in hand. It appears, however, that private generosity will provide for this city and province what public contributions by way of rates could not allow the controlling authority to undertake. ' A gentleman who was keenly interested in the gardens was the late Mr C. A. C. Cuningham, whose sudden death occurred only a short time ago. Mr Cuningham, who had an enthusiasm for flowers and gardening, was almost a daily visitor to the Domain Gardens, in which he took the liveliest interest. He frequently discussed the possibility of erecting winter gardens in the Domain, and it is gratifying to be able to announce that in his will he has left a handsome sum—practically £IO,OO0 —to be applied to that specific object. The bequest, which is practically the late Mr Cuninghani's full estate, is subject to a legacy of £4OO to an old friend, and a life interest to an elder brother. It is stipulated that the winter gardens are to be erected in that part of the Domain bounded by the River Avon and the land occupied by Christ's College.