EARLY SETTLERS' MEMORIAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 264, 4 August 1919, Page 5

EARLY SETTLERS' MEMORIAL

—MEETING AT PETONE. A meeting of (he descendants of the early pioneers who landed at Petono beach was held at Petone on Saturday afternoon to consider by what way the memory of those early settlers was to be perpetuated. The Mayor of Petono (Mr. J. W. M'Ewnn) presided over a good attendance. . *■ Mr. M'Ewan explained the object of tho meeting, and said that the question for those present to decide was as to what form the proposed memorial should take. He had received a letter from the vioepresident of the Historical and Early Settlers' Association suggesting tho hanging of a portrait in the Art Gallery as a suitable means of honouring tho memory of the early arrivals in the country. Another suggestion received had favoured tho erection of a memorial hail in the citv. Several of those present spoke of tho necessity of erecting a suitable memorial and the majority favoured a monument at the landing place on Petono beach. Major Vino said that'ho thought that the erection of a monument or something similar in Wellington city would bo the more suitablo idea. Mrs. Sidoy said she hoped that if a monument was decided on, it would be •i fitting one. It was eventually decided to erect a monument on Petone beach, and a committee, consisting of Mesdames M'Ewan, Jones, and Chandler, and Messrs. M'Ewan, Piper, F. London, and Bedlngfield, was appointed to make arrangements for tho'carrying out of a systematic and thorough canvass of tho descendants of tho. early pioneers for subscriptions to the obiect in new. Mr. Bedingfiold was appointed secretary, and it was also decided that the Petone committee work in conjunction with tho association in Wellington. A vote of thanks to tho Mayor concluded tho meeting. -,