SOLDIERS' MEMORIAL.

Otaki Mail, 9 May 1923, Page 2

SOLDIERS' MEMORIAL.

AN OBELISK TO BE ERECTED. DONATION OT .Clev PKOMKED. ~ A meeting 01 persons interested in the Soldiers' rest resort memorial site at. Otaki met hist night for the purpose of considering designs, etc. There was a, splendid attendance. Air J. P. Brandon (Mayor) occupied the chair, In outlining the scheme Air Brandon said it believed till to do their best in commemoration of the soldier-, ami he asked that designs, to be submitted by .Mr Williams, be given every consideration and viewed with an impartial mind. Mr Williams said for some time then; had been a scheme in hand to erect something worthy oi the soldiers, and mentioned that Mr- Mcßeath had promised a donation of £IOO toward* a

cenotaph or something else approved of by the meeting. (Applause). Mr Brandon had also offered a donation of £25. 'Further applause). Personally, lie had taken a. great deal of interest in the rest resort, but there had been

a lot of opposition, and in eon sequence very little had been done. The committee, however, had worked to the best of their ability, but the:.- was an overdraft of £"to to £IUO, and in consequence th.- Bank had pulled them up with a round turn* The committee had been handicapped foi lack of finance, and it had beet/ suggested that the scheme lie dropped. Tin- was an impossibility, but with help from the pubhe he thought the project could bmade u success. An obelisk would cost, complete with 160 name.-, about iiL':;"., but if the' public de-ir,ed something better the scheme could be added to. lie understood also that the Returned Soldiers-' Association was willing to help, e >.lr Fisher, monumental mason, explained that the obelisk, design submitted, "as in polished grey granite and would cost £153 to erect, while £SO I to £6O would be added to that, amount if names were engraved. The obelisk could be erected within two months. It was thought by some present that New Zealand material should be used instead of the imported article, but Mr Fisher said there was no doubt but that the article from overseas wa- much superior. Mr Watts asked what had happened to the original scheme ? Mr Wiliiam, -aid there had been much opposition against it. and the committee were advised to have an obelisk or cenotaph. It was eventually moved that the design submitted be approved of. His Worship thought something more useful than an obelisk -hould be erected and thought memorial gates

would be better. Mr Pole said the committee started to do something useful but had got blocked. He thought it unwise to discuss th<9 'useful' part and advised ail to baek up the- present scheme. The design was suitable ar.d the price reasonsble, and he saw no reason why the money should not be raised. Mr Olliver offered £5 toward-- the scheme provided ten other.- did likewise. The amount was forthcoming. Tie Chairman said he was a great believer in having something awful, and considered the cenotaph of no use to anyone. Gate- or a fountain, he considered, would be much more suitable. Several spoke in support'of an obelisk.

The. Chairman said did not care ' ' where the gates were erected —Best ' site or domain, and said kt th* original ! scheme there was mention of gates bat ' f nothing abo-.it a cenotaph- He al&o dej *re to reen conveniences erected for ! women and children, and thought it ] best to adhere to the original sctreme. I He would double his donation if lotne- \ thing useful was done. Mr Bills said an attempt to made to ! carry out the original scheme, but sold 1 water had been thrown oa it. He eoaI sidered it the duty of the CouEcil to I erect conveniences. After further disctti-sion th? motion ■; was put and declared carried, after ' which several donations of £5 each. wgre promised- -^