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Hokitika Guardian, 26 June 1922, Page 2

Tin-: public spirit of the local committee which was set up in regard to the Burns Memorial in deciding to order the statue at once, and proceed with th<- collection of the remainder of tinliinds required, is to he commended. Ihe enterprise was of course rendered possible by the generous gift of Air Patrice, who is contributing more than a third of the cost of the monunit u.. In passing it might lie said that the total cost ot the memorial is very reasonable, :l fact rendered possible hv the liberality ol Mr Thompson, tile contractor in keeping the price at a minimum, combined with the benefit to 1 c derived in the present exchange rates between- England and Ttaly. The mar. hie statue is to Is- executed in Sicily by an English artist, and from the sketch design will he a very striking figure, and quite an ornament to the ort ward cmMlis-hments of any town,, large or small. Under all the oireiimstniues, therefore, there was wisdom in going oil with the project, and the townspeople as well as admirers of Burns, will have occasion in the times to come to he grateful for the foresight in pushing through the interesting project under such advantageous terms. It remains now for the public to showtheir practical interest in the movement. which is one for the general benefit of the place. An appeal is nowmade for funds £250 being the sum required. If a general response is made throughout the town and district, as, also, from friends outside the p;o----vincinl area, the money will lie forthcoming i-eadily. The rearing of the monument here will be to the credit of the town for all time, and seeing that the subject of the statue is none other than the Poet of Democracy, a West Coast town thoroughly democrat!--its feelings, is a fitting resting place for siit-h a monument.