THE GLOBAL. WEDNESDAY. SEPTEMBER 21. 1881.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2330, 21 September 1881, Page 2

THE GLOBAL. WEDNESDAY. SEPTEMBER 21. 1881.

Wi aro glad to notice that 6teps are being taken to perpetuate amongst us the memory of the late Mr. W. S. Moorhouse. His Worship the Mayor has convened a meeting to be held to-morrow for the purpose of considering the best means of achieving the object. We regret somewhat that the meeting has been called at an hour when a very large section of the community are unable to attend, and we should have much preferred to have seen an opportunity afforded to all to do so by having an evening meeting. With the artisan, the mechanic, and the laborer, the deceased gentleman was most thoroughly in accord. Essentially a man of action himself, he was one who recognised to the full the dignity of labor, and when the subject of the fittest method of commemorating the many and important services rendered to the community by him is to be discussed, this important portion of the residents here should have an opportunity of expressing their opinion. Having drawn attention to this point, which seems to have been overlooked, but which it is not too late to remedy, we may just briefly glance at the proposals already made as to the method in which the community shall fitly record its appreciation of the work done by one who has the right to the proud title of the founder of the prosperity of Canterbury. A correspondent in one of the morning journals suggests that his memory should be commemorated by erecting some part of the Cathedral, ; ad we presume naming it after the deceased. Against such a course there is, we think, many serious objections. The first of these is that the Cathedral —however catholic one may desire to be—belongs exclusively to one particular denomina-

tion. Tho work done by the late William Sefton Moorhonse was done for all, | irrespective of creed or division into sects. It seems to ns, therefore, that at the outset the plan proposed would not be one which could fitly bo carried out. Then a statue has been suggested, and we incline to the belief that this mothod would be supported by the majority of the people. In doing this we are but following the example set us elsewhere. England commemorates the deeds of her soldiers, her statesmen, and her men of letters by erecting statues in the midst of her cities. Coming nearer, we find the same thing obtains in Victoria and New South "Wales. The hardy explorers who went forth into what was then a terra incognita, the interior of the vast Australian continent, and laid down their lives in the task, have erected to them a statue which will keep their memories green in the hearts of the Australians for all time. Already here wo have dono honour to one of the pioneers who stood by the cradle of the province in the person of John Robert Godley. If then it has been elsewhere considered the highest form of respect, or rather memorial, that a community can offer to departed worth to erect a status, why should we hesitate to follow so good an example. It is true that so long as the Moorhonse tunnel lasts, there will always remain a monument to the foresight, energy, and pluck of the projector. But we want to see more than that. To a great extent that is a matter of sentiment. But let us place in onr midst amongst the bnsy throngs who have reaped, or are now reaping, the fruits of the work dono by Wiliam Sefton Moorhouse a counterfeit presentment in bronze of the man in his habit as he lived, and we shall ensure his memory being honored by generations yet unborn. Years hence, when the prosent residents shall have passed away, and their places know them no more, the services rendered by him to whom the memorial is erected will be as well known as they are now. We trust therefore that the meeting to-morrow will adopt a statue as the most fitting form of memorial, because like the magician Shakspeare, the work done by William Sefton Moorhouse is not alone for this generation, but for all time. The projector, alas, has passed away, bat the results of his industry remain, and each year sees them increase in the effect for good on the prosperity of Canterbury.