A WAR SOUVENIR

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2921, 11 August 1925, Page 2

A WAR SOUVENIR

QUESTION OF LOCATION

TBIANGLE OB COUNCIL YARD

One day last month Foxf oil's batlered and rusted war souvenir, in the form of a captured Herman held gun, much camouflaged with periwinkle and other greenery, fresh from the Council yard, where for some years past it lm- been used to train pumpkins over, was mi - ceiemoniously towed into place in the Triangle by tile Borough road ■-tali’. Its change of location drew forth much juvenile admiration, parents to the contrary, and up to I lie present the gun has formed a ouirce of constant investigation and amusement for the children wending their way to and from school. There has been much comment current however, as to ilie wisdom of placing the war relic in the Triangle. The reading of a paragraph that appeared in the Hoad Foreman's report ai last night s (,'oimeil meeting, to the effect that “ihe liehi gun from the Council card has been placed in a strategic position in the Triangle,” brought hrond -mill 1 - to the tacos of most •>f the Councillors, and caused the Town Clerk to remark that it would perhaps he better to return the lethal weapon to the Council yard. This remark roused tile spirit of Cr. Adams who, in full set terms, arraigned the Clerk for his unsoldicrly spirit ill suggesting the consigning of the souvenir to the Council yard. “Such, action,” said Cr. Adams, “casts a relleelion on the men who served in the Boer War and the (treat War. Such action would not lie British. He was an old soldier himself and no exsoldier would express such an opinion as the Town Clerk had.” The Clerk informed Cr. Adams that he was an ex-soldier and he did not. see why any one should make ,-uch a fuss over a Herman gun. Cr. Adams: What..’ A German gun? The Clerk: Yes. It was captured during the war. Cr. Adams: Throw it in the river! I'll uive you a hand to dump it tomorrow. (Laughter). The gun. however is neither to he removed to the Council yard nor “dumped" in the river hut is to he civcii a coat of French grey paint and allowed to remain in the Triangle.