The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. MONDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1888. THE JUBILEE MEMORIAL.
It will be Been by an advertisement published m another column that a meeting of subscribers to the Jubilee Memorial Fund is appointed for tomorrow at 4 p.m. at the County Council Chambers to consider of the most suitable way of disposing of the funds m hand. It is to be hoped that there will be a sufficient attendance to enable business to be proceeded with, as it is high time that a decision were arrived at a3 to the form which the Ashbnrton Jubilee Memorial is to take. Most other places indeed have established or erected their memorials, and by this time pretty well forgotten all about the matter. Timaru has its fountain, Christchurch its . Memorial Home, another town its monument, another itß endowed beds m the hospital, and so on, and Ashburton's memorial is as yet only m nubibus. As to the best way of spending the amount available there is not very wide room for choice, for the enthusiasm of a year and a half ago has had ample time to die out, and as, consequently, there would be little or no chance of obtaining additional subscriptions, the " coat " to be manufactured will necessarily have to be cut " according to the cloth " at present available, which represents so small a sum that no very ambiguous project can be entertained. The propoials which have at various times been before the public are three m j number. These were : (1) The erection j of a building for a Corn Exchange. (2) Providing a public clock. (3) Erecting a memorial fountain. The first of these may now be at once dismissed as altogether unattainable for lack of funds, and the choice really lies between the last two. As regards the public clock proposal, we understand that a striking clock with a bell which could be heard all over the town could be obtained for about £80, and that as the funds m hand amount to nearly £120, there would be a balance of some £40 available for placing it m position. Obviously this would not enable the erection of a clock-tower, and it follows that if tho clock is to be determined upon it must bo placed m or upon some public building. Here again it is almost a case of Hobßon's, choice for the Library building is the only structure we have m which the clock could be placed so as to be of any great use to the public. It is thought we understand, that the £40 or so available, after paying for the clock, would suffice to place it m position m the front of the Library building, where the dial could be seen for a considerable distance by persons passing along Eaat Street or West street. It would be all ! tho better, if the clock be determined upon, that it should have an illuminated dial so as to show the time after dark. Failing the clock, the only feasible proposal seems to be that for a memorial fountain. If we recollect rightly Mr Purnell BtroDgly advocated this when the fund was being subscribed and his proposal, we think, was that it should be placed m the Domain. The fountain found many champions on the principle that " a thing of beauty is a joy for ever," but it was objected that its proposed location was too much out of the way; On the other hand the supporters of the Domain proposal argued that as the fund had been subscribed by residents m the county as well as citizens of Ashburton the Domain was a more suitable site than any within the borough. We see little or nothing, m that contention, and, on the contrary, think that if we are* to have a fountain it should be placed where our country friends can ccc
it whenever they visit the town. In order to this an excellent site would be on the vacant space between the railway and East street, bounded on the north by Cameron street and on the south by Havelock street. This would probably be granted to the Borough by Government, if applied for, for this purpose, and if suitably fenced and planted with shrubs and flowers, with the fountain m the centre, would have a very pretty effect. Possibly some of the subscribers may have a preferable scheme to either of these to bring forward at to-morrow's meeting, but we hope no time will be lost m deciding upon something, and m carrying to completion whatever scheme may be adopted.
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Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1964, 8 October 1888, Page 2
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770The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. MONDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1888. THE JUBILEE MEMORIAL. Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1964, 8 October 1888, Page 2
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