THE GLOBE. SATURDAY, APRIL 1, 1882. THE MOORHOUSE MEMORIAL

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2492, 1 April 1882, Page 3

THE GLOBE. SATURDAY, APRIL 1, 1882. THE MOORHOUSE MEMORIAL

It is, somehow, the fate of movements of all kinds initiated in Canterbury, that they are started with any amount of enthusiasm and dash, but gradually and surely tail off after the first into something resembling apathy. This, we regret to say, is apparently true with regard to what may justly be designated a national memorial, or a just tribute of the people of Canterbury to the memory of one who spent his strength in their service. Some time in October last the preliminary meeting in connection with the Moorhouse memorial was held, and our readers will well remember that it was a thoroughly representative gathering. The work of collecting the necessary funds, judging from the way in which the proposal was received in every part of the district, seemed to be exceedingly easy. A band of workers, with the übiquitous and persuasive John Ollivier at their head, was formed to go forth on the work of collection. Since then we have heard little or nothing about what is being done, or likely to be done, in the matter, and we take the opportunity of drawing public attention to the subject in order that if necessary bagging interest may be revived. Every day’s delay renders the work more difficult, because it is a sad but well known fact that nothing dies out of the memory of a people so soon as the record of services rendered. Wo must not be understood as in any way censuring those who have this matter in band. Far from it. Our desire is to see a memorial erected worthy alike of the

departed, whose public career it is intended to commemorate, and the community. In order, as we believe, to accomplish this, it is highly necessary that some information should be afforded as to the present state of affairs. If the requisite amount has not yet been collected, then it is high time a vigorously prosecuted canvass was entered upon. On the other if sufficient fands are either in hand or promised then no delay should be allowed to take place in sending the order home. It may be that we are quite mistaken, and that following the illustrious examples of those truly great men Mr. John Inglis and Mr. William Montgomery, Mr. Ollivior has transacted all his business in committee, and that ere long the memorial will quite unexpectedly be landed in onr midst. We hope this is so, much as the popular form of transacting public business in committee is to be deplored. For fear, however, it should not be as our fancy has painted it, we venture, with all deference and humility as befitting the new position into which Mr. John Inglis desires to place the Fourth Estate, viz., that of servility—to ask Mr. John Ollivier to deign to enlighten us as to what is being done with regard to the Moorhouse memorial. We all feel deeply interested in it, and therefore any information on the subject, however slight, will, we are sure, be gratefully acknowledged.

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It affords us the deepest gratification to be enabled to call public and special attention to an act of self-sacrifice and abnegation on the part of the Canterbury Jockey Club, which we think we are entitled to regard as without parallel. We are informed through the medium of the morning papers that alterations are now in progress, by which in future the public will be allowed to see some portion of the bodies of the animals engaged in the various races held on the course. It has, we believe, been generally understood that the public in attending these races did so from love of sport and a desire to witness the racing. We are glad to be able to dispel this popular fallacy and to make it widely known that the Christchurch people, in this respect at least, are unselfish to a degree. They are content to pay their halfcrowns for the purpose of enabling a select few not only to see the races, but to run animals themselves for public money. The admission to this select circle is, as might be supposed, exceedingly difficult, though intellect is not sufficient to achieve it. It* resembles somewhat the patrician class of old Rome, though birth is not a sine qua non, but money is. The common vulgar public, as we have pointed out, have for some little time past cheerfully consented to this favoured class having a monopoly of the sight-seeing at the races, and therein they have shown an unselfishness worthy of all credit, but with true patrician dignity the circle referred to have declined to be outdone in generosity by their plebeian brethren. They have actually determined to give np the paddock wherein their equipages have usually stood. When we consider that this is perhaps one of the best places from which to see the racing, and that the servants of these ladies and gentlemen will be deprived of their view of the sport, the magnitude of the sacrifice is perfectly overwhelming. In the language of Lady Angela in “ Patience,” it is “ quite too all but.” We will not harrow up the feelings of our readers by longer contemplation of this great and noble act of self-sacrifice. No doubt a grateful public will appreciate it as it deserves. Let them think of the boon thus granted to them, and be thankful. Above all it must not be forgotten that to afford the public a corner on their own ground to view sport, to the coat of which they largely contribute, these noble minded persons actually inconvenience their domestics—nay, more, their valuable horses. Is there one man in the community who is not touched by this beautiful spectacle, and who does not feel a thrill of pride pass through him at belonging to a community where such noble deeds are done ? If we might venture still farther to trespass oh the unbounded and overflowing generosity of this truly great circle of the too all-huts, a humble petition might he presented on behalf of those canaille the newspaper men. It is true they are completely and entirely beneath the notice of such gifted and transcendant beings as compose the Jockey Club. Fancy so erudite and elegant a member of the upper ten as the Hon. Wm. Robinson descending so low as to talk to a person with brains. Of course the idea is preposterous, but still the magnanimity of the members is extensive. This being so we feel emboldened to ask that these utterly worthless creatures might have something over their heads to protect them from the summer heat or showers of rain. We are aware of the

temerity of asking such a thing after the large, nay gigantic, concessions already made; bat we have great faith in the generosity of those who have consented to allow valuable horses and highly paid servants to be disturbed for the benefit of the common herd. We know of nothing, either in ancient or modern times, equal to this, and therefore we hasten to place it on record for tho benefit not only of those detractors who are fond of asserting that turo gentility does not exist here, but also for the information of posterity.