WESTLAND WAR MEMORIAL.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 April 1920, Page 2

WESTLAND WAR MEMORIAL.

Tl-IE FUND INCREASING. For the third day of the collecting campaign the memorial fund was brought- to £523. This leases £977 still to be raised, and there are but six days in which to accomplish the task. The foundation stone of the war memorial will be laid on Sunday next — Anzao Day—at noon, subsequent to the Church memorial services. The ground

for the ceremony will be prepared during the week. The eastern side of Cass Square has been selected as the . site, a suitable plot of ground being available there. The Westland roll of honor published on Saturday was an impressive list of our valiant dead in the Great” War. Few could read that list of one hundred names and more, without being moved as to what the Groat War in faroff Europe meant to this little spot in the Antipodes. Among the list of fine fellows who went west in the cause of humanity, the readers would find many familiar names which would recall old associations of pleasant intercourse. The Westland men put- up a noble record in the war, and it is for the people who benefit by what their su-

preme sacrifice won) to honor their names and their record with a perpetual memorial which will be a remindier for all time of what the winning of the war meant, and what a toll was exacted from willing Westlanders for the great cause espoused. - Additional names are coming to hand for the Stone of Remembrance, and the total is now approaching 140. This figure indicates what a part Westland played in the Great War, and in proportion to population, the fallen will exceed the number of the average for the Dominion. So fine a record cannot be too worthily memorialised, i Letters are now being received from different parts of New Zealand expressing satisfaction at the proposal mooted i locally to rear a memorial .to the fallen, ! and congratulating the Committee' on ■ taking up so worthily an object. DoJ nations to assist the fund have been I received from Christchurch and AVel-

lington, indicating the outside interest taken in the project. Air 11. A. T-homposn is preparing the concrete stone for the foundation which is to be laid on Sunday next at noon. The Borough authorities are assisting in the preparation of the ground for the purpose, and will arrange for the accommodation of the'public. The town appears to Be making a splendid response to the memorial fund. Th!e collectors report ' that generally there is a very fine spirit abroad among the public to contribute freely to the provincial movement-. No doubt the response front the country will be in keeping with the spirit- of the townspeople to do the right thing well and quickly in keeping with the reputation of the place.