MR RHODES’ WILL.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 384, 8 April 1902, Page 2

MR RHODES’ WILL.

It has been said that the name of the late Cecil Rhodes will live in the memory long after many who by judicious self-advertising have gained a seemingly large place are unknown to the people. That statement is certainly to a large extent borne out by the will of the deoeased empire-builder. Many a man who has done great work for his country never has the opportunity of giving directions how six millions of .wealth is to be distributed, but leaving that phase of the question out of the argument, it must be said of the great Cecil Rhodes, that though he sought to acquire wealth rapidly, in his lifetime he did generous work for the public good, and in his will he made handsome provision for works benefiting the public, and Mr Rhodes will no doubt be long and gratefully remem oered on that account. Like all successful men he made enemies, and like the rest of humanity he at times made mistakes, which eager and clever opponents were not slow to take advantage of in the endeavor to discredit Rhodes and all his works. But though he set his business mind to the acquiring of wealth during his life time he always sought to use it for the public good, and he made ample provision for a like use of the wealth left when he had gone. Mr Rhodes’ idea that education was- the best guarantee of universal peace is put into effect as far as any one man could do it by the endowments provided for the encouragement of higher education. “ So much to do, and so little done,” could certainly never truly be said of the late Cecil Rhodes, though in his modesty that was the phrase that he himself made use of on his deathbed. It could never fairly be said of the great empire-builder. There is no doubt yet a great deal to do, but no one can say that Mr Rhodes did not accomplish a great deal.