CORONATION MEMORIAL

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 443, 14 June 1902, Page 3

CORONATION MEMORIAL

'(To the Editor of the Times)

Sir—l was much impressed with the letter .written in Friday’s Times by “ .Visitor.” .Such a letter, apart from the ideas advocated, ought to do good, —for it lifts the discussion to a higher plane'' The tendency has been for it to degenerate into personalities or attacks and counter attacks between West Enders and Pointers. As you observe in your article, it would be better that the Coronation be allowed to pass by without any memorial if ■j that memorial is to be built on the ' shifty foundation of petty wrangling and jealousy. We should have a memorial, and it should be useful and ornamental. The Times, I think, has suggested a good way out of the difficulty as to a band rotunda by procuring a site in: <thc street near the, Mayor’s retidence. The site would lie central. The dedication of .the rotunda to the Mayor and Mayoress as his

Majesty’s chief representatives in this district, would be a graceful recognrtion of long and valued services for which no recompense has been offered. It would be an aid to the good work of the Beautifying Association, the body which has been doing splendid week, but surely not giving reasonable .consideration as to expense and site when they declare for a band rotunda at the bleak site known as the Point,

'which is struck by every wind thal blows, including gentle zephyrs from tho freezing works in the summer, and . icy cold blasts from east and south in the winter. For myself, lam in 'favor of a band rotlmda for the reason that it is so much needed, that it would be soj popular, and that it could be made a beautiful ornament to the town. There is the objection to Peel street that in years to come the traffic to and from the railway station will be so great as to require every inch of roadway. Well, I say hasten the day, for then we would be in a position to have that and all the other principal h ghways lighted with electricity. The band rotunda could then be shifted to the Recreation Ground, in keeping with the Beautifying Association’s charming plan for that locality. The advantages' at present would be that the placing of the rotunda in Peel street would be a. graceful compliment : lor worthy services of the people’s chief magistrate and his good lady ; it would tit in with the valuable work of the Beautifying Association, it would meet with the wishes of the bandsmen, who are entitled to some consideration for their many kindnesses, it would provide an ornament by day and a lighting stand by night Without extra expense for the chief tailway thoroughfare ; it would be a Central position meeting all the arguments of those who prefer the Point, while at the same time it would be acceptable to the West End people, to the Waikanae and Victoria township, as well as to the Whatadpoko, without being inconvenient to Kaiti. Anyone -with the least power of observation must see that Gisborne will grow towards Te Hapara, that is taking a line along from the beach to Mangapapa, and therefore the Carnarvon street .Recreation Ground, which now to some seems far out of the town, Will become a central locality. In time, I believe it can be made a greater beauty spot than the lovely New Plymouth gardens. The ground Jias the advantage that it is, fronted on three sides by roads, the other frontage being to the river and intersected by a road connected by the footbridge, a road that the Beautifying Association and Mr W. L. Regs might well take in hand at once. The ground is! overlooked by nice villa residences, and is an easy walk for convalescents from thq hospital or the •poor fellows from the Old Men s Home. ' Looked at in every way the ground is an ideal spot for further development, in addition to. which cne soil is rich. All things considered, therefore, I would say put the rotunda Tirst in Peel street, and then in the . years to. come let it mark an indusftHtr al epocli by shifting it to the Re--creation Ground when the traffic has become so great that the roadway must be cleared ; the shifting of it for such a reason wou:d be another compliment to those who have so willingly given their services in promoting me progress and prosperity of the town. iAs to swimming baths, the suggestion is a splendid one, provided that the financial aspect can be satisfactorily ar- ; ranged, which I am not in a position In conclusion, I hope that the ,’memorial will be discussed and decided in a. friendly way, so that any final decision will meet with the approval of gf "> «•» - Toy v alt“'

A .GRUMBLE BY, TELEPHONE,

A correspondent telephones from the country to the Times aa follows : Oh the ioy of it—here we are ploughing in mud nearly up to the "knees and quite - boggy in some places, while you luxurious townsfolk are squabbling how you are going to spend own little £SO to suit your own whims. It is real good sport readingjthe correspondence, and keeping our ears to the ground 10 •listen if any of our, County Councillors are going to give a little pipe in this matter., I think some of'us country folk ought to start up directly, and m a loud voice say things that will have the effect of making some one sit up. Do I want my remarks published. Of course X do. but don’t repeat all the strong language I have been using. 'The fact is it’s not strong enough, but it is too strong to suit the palate of you oolislied townsfolk. Here are us poor beggars here, dog-tired of crying out for passable roads, and now we are to have a poor rate, while you fellows are Cutting up our little gift just to! suit) vourselves. What would I suggest . - That some of that £SO he sent along our way to fill up a few of the hogs. There would be more genuine loyalty T' '“about that than there is among some ■ 'of your townies. No you had better ' not mention my name, or they might .; think i that I am trying to hit at some .One personally.’’