Thomas Cawthron, (26/5/1833-8/10/1915). "the greatest liberality"

 THOMAS CAWTHRON.

(Per Press Association). NELSON, October 8. 

The death occurred this evening of Mr Thomas Cawthron at the age of 82. Mr Cawthron was born at Camberwell, Surrey, in 1833, and came to New Zealand at the age of 15 with his father, who settled in Nelson. After an absence of a few years in Wellington and Australia Mr Cawthron returned to Nelson in 1857 and entered into the shipping business. For many years he was agent for the principal lines trading to the place when Nelson was one of the most important ports in the colony. He also transacted a very large business as a shipping contractor. He accumulated a large fortune, which in later years he drew upon with the greatest liberality to benefit the city. Among his more important benefactions to Nelson are the new hospital about to be erected, for which he gave £15,000, Cawthron Park, a beautiful forest reserve of 2500 acres near the city, a flight of stone steps on Church Hill, costing £1800, an organ in the School of Music costing £1800, and a gift of £2500 to clear off the indebtedness of the institution. He also made valuable benefactions to the Nelson Institute and other public institutions. At the time of his death he was elaborating a scheme for further expenditure for the public benefit, including a solar physics observatory, estimated to cost £30,000.  -Ashburton Guardian, 9/10/1915.

THE CAWTHRON ESTATE

ESTIMATED AT A QUARTER OF A MILLION

PROVISIONS OF THE WILL,

A GREAT BEQUEST.

CAWTHRON INSTITUTE TO BE ESTABLISHED.

The will of the late Mr Thomas Cawthron, a holograph one signed and attested in London on December 15th, 1902, bequeaths the bulk of the estate, estimated to be worth in the neighbourhood of a quarter of a million sterling, to the establishment and maintenance of an Industrial and Technical School, Institute and Museum calculated to serve a wide range and largely in the direction of scientific research bearing upon industry and commerce. 

Provision is made for the payment of debts and funeral and testamentary expenses, "and the erection of a tomb in Trafalgar-street Cemetery in Nelson to the memory of all my relatives buried there and myself." 

Residential property is to be disposed of for the benefit of certain relatives. The will proceeds: 

"And I will and bequeath all other real and personal property belonging to me unto the Bishop of Nelson, the Mayor of Nelson, the Chairman or the Waimea County Council, the members of the House of {Representatives and legislative Council for the City of Nelson and Waimea electorate, the Chairman of the Nelson Harbour Board, and William Rout the younger, of the city of Nelson, all in trust and who are all also to be the executors of this my will, for the purchase of land and erection and maintenance of an Industrial and Technical School, Institute and Museum to be called the Cawthron Institute, after payment of the following sums out of my estate. . ."

Then follows a list of annuities and legacies to relatives. The witnesses to the will were the accountant and a clerk of the Bank of New Zealand, London branch. At a meeting of the executors yesterday, the following temporary appointments were made: Mr Wm Rout will act as secretary, and Messrs Rout, Milner and Gully as solicitors.

In addition to the local bodies mentioned as having been represented yesterday at Mr Cawthron's funeral was the Richmond Borough Council, Mayor of the borough attending. The service at the graveside was conducted by Bishop Sadlier and Rev. J. P. Kempthorne.  -Nelson Evening Mail, 12/10/1915.

A "holograph will" is defined as one which is written and signed by the testator, rather than one drawn up by another party to be signed.

Wakapuaka Cemetery, Nelson.