COOK MEMORIAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1557, 13 September 1905, Page 3

COOK MEMORIAL.

THE QUESTION OF SITE.

At the meeting of the Borough Council last evening, a letter was read from the secretary of the Cook Memorial Committee (Mr W. Gaudin), asking the Counoil to reconsider the decision arrived at at the previous meeting refusing permission to place the proposed obelisk on portion of the road round the Kaiti beach. The writer pointed out that if the Council declined to grant the request the memorial would have to be erected on a site lower on the beaoh, but not so suitable for the purpose. Cr Bright contended that the Council could not deal with the question without notice of motion. It was absolutely the same application made to the previous meeting. Or Miller thought the request was a reasonable one. He had himself voted against the application at the previous meeting because be desired an opportunity to inspect the site. He moved that a committee of the whole Oouncil should iuspeot the proposed site, and afterwards deal with the application. The Mayor considered the request Bhould be granted. They could not get a better site.

Cr Lysnar seconded the motion> He snppotted the reconsideration 1 of the application by the Cook Memorial Committee) as he did not think 'the memorial should * Jo \Fr a vi^ii?ay o wa3 opposed to the obelisk going on the beach. At the risk of his own life he had, he said, visited the locality, which he described as “ a dirty smelling, disreputable, rag, shell, stinking place.” Cr Bees pointed out that if the locality was what Or Whiuray pictured it, what better means could they have of improving it than to convert it into a park, and put up a beautiful obelisk. All he desired was thßt it should not unduly interfere with the road. : The Mayor said that Captain Tucker had informed him that if the memorial were placed on the sits asked for by the committee, he would be pleased to “allow any earth required to be taken from the

hill. Or Bright opposed tho reconsideration of the matter without notice of motion being given. Cr Sheridan strongly supported the application. He did not think notioe : of motion was required. The Council had received a very courteous letter from the Cook Memorial committee,_ and . they should grunt the application without further consideration, provided an assurance would be given that the traffic would not be interfered with. Cr Harding opposed the question being re-opened except by notice of motion. After further disoussion Or Miller's motion, “ That a committee of the whole Connoil shall visit the proposed Bite and report thereon,” was carried. , Cr Lysnar also gave notice of motion " That the pievious deoision ot the Ooun I oil refusing permission be rescinded.”