MR. SEGER’S NEW MEMORIAL SCHEME

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 115, 13 February 1928, Page 10

MR. SEGER’S NEW MEMORIAL SCHEME

(To the Editor.) Sir, —Air. Hurst Seager’s admirable revision of the scheme of placement for the silent memorial, war memorial, national. museum aud art gallery is of great moment, coming as it does from ono familiar with the most dignified and beautiful memorials of Europe and their settings, who earnestly desires to see New Zealand “splendid in her public ways.” As principal of ono of tho many large schools surrounding tho area in question, I would like most heartily to support Air. Seager’s endeavour to obtain this change of site for the “silent memorial” from Molesworth Street to Kent Terrace. The memorial would then be free from the dwarfing of direct hill background and could, as Air. Seager points out, be seen throughout a long road and promenade. Its influence, as a token of war sacrifice, would be marked upon the thousands of pupils who throng daily, during the most formative period of their lives, to the schools in the vicinity of Mount Cook. One serious question, however, has to be faced in connection with the carillon, namely, how far will its peals interfere with the work of the three thousand day and evening students attending classes at the Technical College —a number certain to increase with time ? As regards the museum, every educationist would, 1 am sure,' welcome it in their midst. Bv lecture and by demonstration its dry bones would live. It would become a truly national possession by the more intimate use of its treasures by the young, whilst the art gallery should prove an inspiration and delight. Its proximity to the new art school shortly to be erected in connection with tbe Technical College would be a tremendous help to generations of students and teachers. Further, the proposed motor road leading to the site from Tasman Street is a striking improvement. At present the bank facing Government "House entry and Tasman Street is one of the “jamtin gullies” of Wellington and a blot on our beautiful city. The flights of steps and terraces from Buckle Street would also be most fitting. I sincerely hope citizens will rally to assist in the final utilisation of this magnificent site, which it has been the privilege of those concerned with technical education to share and develop.— ! am, etc., r howell . Wellington Technical College. February 11.