PROPOSED MONUMENT TO THE LATE SIR DONALD McLEAN.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5143, 17 September 1877, Page 3

PROPOSED MONUMENT TO THE LATE SIR DONALD McLEAN.

(From the Hawke’s Bay Herald, 14th inst.) It is proposed to erect a monument to the memory of the late Sir Donald McLean. The movement is, being initiated among the Highlanders of Hawke’s Bay, who are invited to meet at Kaikoura on the 17th inst. The invitation is in Gaelic, a language which is probably not familiar to many of our readers. The following is a translation of it, rendered as nearly like the original as it is possible to trausla-e into English the fervid and poetic language of the Gaelic—“To the Highlanders of Hawke's Bay.— By the death of pur fellow-countryman, Sir Donald McLean, New Zealand has lost a great and good man. To commemorate his many virtues it is meet that a monument be erected; and it having been suggested to ns that the initiatory steps : in this matter should be taken by you, we uow invite as many of you as can make it convenient to meet us in the schoolhouse, Kaikoura, on Wednesday, the 17th October next, at noon.—Donald Gollan, William Couper, Alexander Grant, Allan McLean, Neil Campbell, Alexander Kennedy.”, Wo are glad to see the matter taken up by the late Sir Donald’s countrymen. It is making a good beginning of what is a very proper thing to do. Sir Donald McLean was one of the comparatively few statesmen we have had who could be deemed deserving of unmingled respect and admiration, and, in paying a just tribute to his memory, men of all classes, and all shades of political opinion, may heartily join. When the movement becomes known, it will not, we think, be confined to the Hawke’s Bay fellow-settlers of the late Sir Donald, but will be warmly taken up throughout tho colony, as the best way of recording the people’s appreciation of a statesman to whose exertions New Zealand is so deeply indebted.