The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 1887. THE JUBILEE MEMORIAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1595, 28 June 1887, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 1887. THE JUBILEE MEMORIAL.

At the risk of being told by our readers that they have heard and read enough about the Jubilee, and that it is time to be thinking about something else, it is necessary that we should return to the subject; for the whole matter will not have been finally done with until it has been decided what is to be done m respect of the permanent memorial proposal, nor indeed, after that has been decided, untjl the thing decided upon is carried out. It will be recollected that some weeks ago there was considerable discussion as to the form this permanent memorial should take, the principal suggestions being — (1) the erection of an ornamental fountain j (2) the providing of a public clock; (3) the establishment of some charity or benevolent institution ; and (4) the founding of a sort of Farmers'. Institute. This last was decided upon at a meeting called to consider the various proposals, but however useful and desirable such an Institution may be, there does not appear the slightest probability of sufficient funds being forthcoming to enable the project to be carried out. If we are correctly informed, the funds available amount to only about ; a sum altogether inadequate for this somewhat ambitious project, or even for any of the others suggested, except one, viz., the fountain proposal. For a public clock m a suitable clock-tower something like three times this sum at the least would be required, and for anything m the shape of a benevolent institution anything less than a thousand or two would be altogether insufficient. It, therefore, seems that the fountain proposal is the " Hobson's choice " of the case. This could, we should suppose, be carried out for the sum available, and we think the subscribers to the fund would do well to revert to this suggestion, which was first made by Mr Purnell. A really pretty ornament to our Public Domain, or to the town, if the Baring Square site can be .made available, would thus be gained, and we should have for all time to come a permanent memorial of the Jubilee year of Queen Victoria.