Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 - 1929), Thursday 20 March 1919, page 4


[By Townacre.] THE DA COSTA LEGACY. Recently The Register files of 50 years ago revealed that the will of the late Benjamin Mendez Da Costa provided for an endownment downment of property valued at £20,000 to St Peter's College. He left a vast quantity of real and personal estate in various: places, but his last will and testimonyprovided that his holdings in this State' should in, course of time, be handed over as a legacy to St. Peter's College. During her lifetime an aged sister had the benefit of his full estate, and at her death nine other relations, most of whom were advanced in years, received the income. I had a talk with Mr. A. E. H. Evans the secretary of St. Peter's Collge, on Wednesday and asked him whether he oouldstate the amount of the improvement in-values of the property held by the collegeunder the bequest, but he stated there had been no recent valuation. The last bene- ficiary under the will of the late Mr. Da Costa died in 1900, and the school then came to benefit under its provisions. The South Australian estate was then valued by the late Mr. H. D. Gouge, the Public Actuary of the day, for probate purposes at £108,000. But in the past 19 years there has been a further advance in values. The liberal hearted donor of this magnificent legacy was a resident of Adelaide during the early days of the Crown Colony, and was engaged in mercantile pursuits in Grenfell street, but he retired and went to reside in England in 1848. -Some of the Properties.— Mr. Da Costa must have had consider abe foresight as regards the future development of the city when he made his early purchases of town acres, as the majonty of his investments were right in the heart of the present-day trading centres. He must have been a man of astute judgnent, and his speculative ventures were lacked up by a lively appreciation of the future position. Of all the early settlers it is questionable whether there were any others who were in a position to retire in 1848. One of the bst positions secured by Mr. Da. Costa is the corner block situated at the junction of Gawler place and Grenfell street at present occupied by Alessrs. A. Simpson & Sons, and the adjoining block on the eastern side with a frontage to Grenfell street was another of his purchteres included in the bequest. He made purchases also in Rundle street, as a portion of the ground covered by the Arcade was in the estate. It is in the north-western half of the structure, erected by the late Mr. J. M. Wendt. and it is interesting to note that the arcade buildings occupy lands owned by several estates. I remember when Sir William Robinson performed the opening ceremony in connection with the arcade somewhere about the year 1885, as the Governor was then greatly. in disfavour. He nad imported a carriage from England, and this was the cause of a spirit of strong resentment. It was considered that the carnage might have been supplied locally, and when His Excellency drove to the opening of the arcade his progress through he streets was signalled by hooting. In fact the feeling was so strong that troops were called up from the permanent forces,

and the Riot Act was read. The position now occupied by Messrs. Grasby's as a wholesale grocery warehouse is included in the bequest, and another fine selection' of city property includes the shop occupied by the Wertheim Company in Rundle street, and there is another 100 ft. frontage to that street running in a westerly direction. There are other blocks in Hindley street, Pulteney Street and other well-situated localities.

This is a view of Maryborough street, Henley. Beach,- taken from tibe. . railway ? at the Mailborough street station, sho wing the fine type of residence now being, erected in the neighbourhood. At the end of the street, fronting* East terrace- (in-dicated by a notice board), is tihe land to be sold by public auction on the estate on Saturday, April 5, when 23 excellent building eites. well situated, high, And most suitable for tihe erection of good-class residence, will be sold on Jiberal terms, at the very low upset price of 15/ per ft. foT East, terrace frontages, and 10/ .per ft. for all other frontages. . Pian3 and all particulars may be dbiaiaed from Measr* ; Wilkinson, Sando, & Wyke, 14 Grenfell street.

This is a view of Maryborough street, Henley. Beach,- taken from tibe. . railway ? at the Mailborough street station, sho wing the fine type of residence now being, erected in the neighbourhood. At the end of the street, fronting* East terrace- (in-dicated by a notice board), is tihe land to be sold by public auction on the estate on Saturday, April 5, when 23 excellent building eites. well situated, high, And most suitable for tihe erection of good-class residence, will be sold on Jiberal terms, at the very low upset price of 15/ per ft. foT East, terrace frontages, and 10/ .per ft. for all other frontages. . Pian3 and all particulars may be dbiaiaed from Measr* ; Wilkinson, Sando, & Wyke, 14 Grenfell street.