IMPORTANT CEREMONY

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1656, 24 January 1906, Page 2

IMPORTANT CEREMONY

MEMORIAL TO THE LATE MR T. CARROLL.

GREAT GATHERING AT WAIROA.

(Special to Gisborne Times.) Wairoß, yesterday.

The great esteem in which the late Mr Thomas Carroll was held by all sections of the community was abundantly evidenced to-day by the presence of a large assemblage of representative men f om far and near to do honor to his memory. These included Sit William Russell, Mesers Dillon and A.. L. D. Fraser, M.H.R’s, Mr Hunter Brown, and the Hon. J. Carroll, brother of the deceased. Natives were present in large numbers, there beiog leading chiefs and representatives of about fifty hapu3 of the Kahun. guna end Tuhoe tribes. Altogether the gathering oonsisted of about 800 people. After the visitors had been welcomed by Ihaka Whangs, Rev. Tamihana Huala (who conducted the service), and by ItijiniF Kopu, a leading chieftainoss, and ""Mr Hunter Brown, the latter before asking Sir William Russell to unveil the monument, said tho idea of erecting the monament originated with the Maoris,and was joined in by the pakebae, both races being anxious to establish a lasting memorial to his Dcmc. . Altogether £135 was oolleoted, the site bsiog donated by Karepis Haupeehi. Mr Hunter Brown pointed out that in life the late Mr Carroll was loved and esteemed by all, and now that he wb'b gone they , desired to do honor to his memory. Sir Wm. Russoll said he felt honored by being invited to perform the ceremony. He referred to the great ancestors of the chiefs present, and pointed out that they were there to celebrate the memory of another man of high rank in Wairoa, whose whole life and interests were bound up there, and who had devoted all his talent and energies to its progress and betterment. In bis veins ran the biood of both races, and he had proved himself a firm friend to both. So great was their confid- ? enoe in his integrity, uprightness end ability, that they frequently made him the J arbitrator in the settlement of their disputes. With his distinguished brother,the Hon. J. Carroll, he had given proof of the | happy result of the fusion of European and Maori blood. Eulogiums were also paid to the de- | ceased by Messrs Fraser and Dillon, M.H.R.’s Mr A. Sinclair, County Chair- i man, end Mr J. Gorki’:!, Chairman of the Town Board. Mr Henry G. Webber interpreted the speeches to ihe Maoris. At the conclusion of the ceremony Sir Wm. Russell was presented with two huia mats and a patu, one of the oldest relics of Kopu family, who fought on the tho Queen.

1 The monument consists of a handsome i Italian white marble obelisk, standing i about 18 feet high, with three concrete : steps and concrete base. The bottom base is of marblo, then comoa tho sub-base, die, cap, and spire. On the side facing the Fresertown-Gis-borne road is iho English inscription, which is as follows : " A Memento of Affection from Eutopesn and Maori Friends. To the Memory of Thomas Oarroll. October 19 th, 1904." Then lower down on the sub-base—--11 Lost We Forget.” The side faciog Ruataniwha road, and the other faciog tho enolosure, each cons tains the following:— Tenei kohata i Whakaarahia e nga iwi 6 rua Maori, Pakeba. Hei tohu aroha mo Tame Kara. Poroporoaki. Haero atu rate momo o Kahungunu Ka ngaro koe i roto o te Wairoa Te Kai-hautu o te waka Te whakarurn-hau o te iwi Te matua o te pani, o te rawakore. No te 19 o nga ra o Oketopa 1904, . i tangohia atn ia ki ona matua mo ona tipuna. ■ The remaining side is to contain a rcoord of the unveiling ceremony. Tho monument occupies a commanding position, within 300 yards of the magnifi. cent bridge across the Wairoa river, almost facing the dairy, and must in time become one of the chief landmarks of the district, t being at tho junction of the Mahia-Morere, Frasertown, Waikaremoana-Gisborne, and I Ruataniwha roads. It is also at the boundary of the Tynron and Norrii Clyde townships, the section being known by the Maori name of Orangitirohia. The site of the monument was given by a native I named Karepa Haupeehi, aud there is a proposal on foot to acquire tbe whole section and devote it to reoreation purposes. The work in connection with the monument has- been ably carried oat by Mr -John Waterworth, monumental mason, of Napier.