10 AUGUST 1901, Page 23

The Story of the Fight for Croham Hurst. By Edward

A. Martin. (Croydon Advertiser.)—Mr. Martin acted as honorary secretary to' an Association which secured Crobam Hurst for the town of Croydon. The property belonged to the Trustees of the Whitgift Hospital, and with no little difficulty—the question had to be fought out in the municipal elections—was secured for something over .215,000. The Trustees had originally offered about two-fifths for £1,000, but it was resolved, and that wisely, to acquire the whole. The area is close upon eighty acres, and it seems that Whitgift bought a property of nearly the same size-

whether the same or not is uncertain—for'k375. Mr. Martin ALLIANCE seems to regret that the town was compelled to pay any more than this sum, quoting a passage from the Whitgift statutes in which the founder forbids an increase of rent. That, however, is a different matter. It would have been a great mistake to cripple the hospital to save the pockets of Croydon ratepayers.