COOK MEMORIAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1875, 3 October 1906, Page 2

COOK MEMORIAL.

A meeting of the Cook Memorial Committee was held yesterday afternoon, there being present: His Worship the Mayor (in the ohair), Mesdames Townley and Ooloman, Messrs J. Q. Cox, F, Harris, A. F. Kennedy, W. Webb, F. J. Rowley, and W. J. P. Gaudin (secretary). Letters were read from the Hon. T. Thompson and Mr J. T. Hogan, M.H.R. i accepting the invitation to be present. A telegram was reoeived from the Premier stating that H.M.B. Challenger woald arrive on Saturday and remain until Monday. In regard to the reference to the Patriotic Committee, the Chairman explained that after votiog the sum for the memorial on the condition stipulated, the Committee bad disbanded, and it was now for the public to do as they thought proper. The money had been paid over to the contractors. One member of tb6 Petrolic Committee, Mr O. A. DeLautour, wt»' at I present in England. The Mayor stated that he, .had inters viewed Mr Fraser, local manager of the U.B.S. Company, who had kindly undertaken that the Tuatea would tender H.M.S. Challenger, which was to arrive on Saturday morning. Mr Cox asked if it was considered the members of the Patriotic Committee oauld not go into the memorial question in the absence of Mr DeLautour, Mr Kennedy was a member. The Chairman said that he, as a member, would not take it on himself to do anything, seeiDg that the Committee had dissolved. Mr Harris said be understood that most of the members of the Patriotic Committee knew what had been going on and the tronble now. The Chairman : None have spoken to m?. r

Mr Harris said he had Bpoken to some, who understood what was going on, and »■ had not intimated that they had any de< sire for the names to be removed. The Chairman : Not one has suggeateuit.

Mr Cox said that one liborai donor to whom he was speaking said that he would be quite willing to aljow the fund to remain for the Cook Memorial without the names being left thereon, the view being that there would be an appeal to the publio to have the troopers' names placed uomewhere elee. The Chairman : That would have to be decided first. Mr Gaudin said he took it that the money had been accepted from thff'-Pat-riotic Committee for a Bpecifio purpose. The money bad been held in trust to have the names placed on the memorial, and nnlil the Committee had some undertaking that the expense of removing the names and placing them elsewhere would be defrayed, they could not move in the matter. . >s Mr Webb : Hear, bear. Mr Oox said if the original resolution to have the names only on one side bad been adhered to there would have been no trouble. Mr Gaudin said the reason for that was that so many names had been handed in that they could not be got on the one side Mr Oox said then the names should either have been crowded on one side or the general oommittee consulted instead of involving them in this matter. The Chairman : Well, is there any other business ? What we wan.) tj conei ler to-day is the programme for Monday, the opeaiog day. The Scretary said he had received the following subscriptions: J. Townley £2 2s, W. Pettie £1 Is, J. G. Cox £1 Is, anonymous donor £l. He suggested that there might be two funds opened up, allowing those who wanted to attach conditions to their subscriptions to do so. Mr W. D. Lysnar had given £2 2sy, and Mr Joyce 10s 6d, conditional on the"' names being removed from the memorial. The Chairman said that -would be. a fair test. The Patriotic Committee had given £l5O for the work. He thought that only a few agitators were opposed to it. No matter what was done they would find agitators disagree therewith. Even if the earth were gilded for them they would ncJif. be satisfied. (Laughter). If they were so anxious to have the alteration made let them put their names down for sufficient to make good the expense. It was simply an agitation. Mr Cox: Surely the Wellington Post is fa ! rly impartial ? The Chairman: Very impartial! As impartial aDd stiff as a post, (Laughter.) Mr Kennedy: That is only patinas prompted? The Chairman: It is put in os if the memorial were not completed. Beading that article you would think the monument was not there at all. We have got the most beautiful monument in New 'L :i 1 ind.

Mr Webb : That we have. The Chairman: Next to Cleopatra’s Needle on the Thames embankment, it is the finest in the colony. Mr Gaudin : I do not think we oan take any notice of the artio'o, beoause it is certainly inspired, Mr Cox: I am sure I did not im spiro it. The Chairman : I don’t think yon did. We are hero for a special purpose, and want to get to work, or the day will be here and we will have nothing done. We must draw up a programme of some kind.

The Oommilteo then went on to discuss the general details for Monday’s gathering. The question arose as to what would be tho most suitablo time to have tho cere's mony of opening the new sohool. Mr Eowley, headmaster, said ha thought the earlier tho bettar it would be for the children, so long as it was not before 9 30 a.m. Tbo Mayor said his idea had been that the main function should have oome first.

Mr Kennedy said they need hardly go into the eobool programme at all, Their aim was to give the country people an opportunity to attond, so that about 11.80 would suit for the unveiling oaremony, giving people nioe time to get in by train. The matter of the sohool ceremony was allowed to stand over until Mr Eowley had gone into the Bubjaot with his sub-

ermmiltee, to report at an adjourned < meeting to-morrow afternoon.

The Mayor, County Chairman (Oapt, Tucker), Messrs Kennedy, Rowley, and Gaudin were appointed a committee to reoeive those who arrived by H.M.SUChallenger.

It was suggested that on the Saturday evening the visitors and officers might be guests at the theatre.

In regard to Sunday, it wa3 stated that the Rev. L, Dawson Thomas had arranged 'or Bpeoial services. °

It was suggested that a visit might be ‘ 1 paid to To Arai Native Ohuroh on Sunday afternoon, and that after the oeremony on > Monday arrangements should be made for a tour in the country, On Monday evenmg it was decided to have a dance sooial / oa the lines of that held on behalf of the im Hoepitai, tickets to be 5s for gentleman, ft 2s 6d for lady, and 2s f o> admission to fl dress otrele. Messrs Webb and Gaudin M S 5“ a •» *"*" J 1 “ aiou,Ml j