ARTHUR HAMILTON AMBURY.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 April 1919, Page 4

ARTHUR HAMILTON AMBURY.

MEMORIAL UNVEILED. The memorial obelisk erooted 6n the stapes of Mt. Egmont, a little abov» tha North Egmont Hostelry, to commemorate the heroic act of Arthur Hamilton Embury, of New Plymouth—in which he lost his life, on June 3 last, in attempting to save William E. Gourlay, of Christchurch, who had slipped on the ice—was unveiled yesterday afternoon in the presence of about 100 people, many of whom went up expressly to be pretest at the ciremony. Mr. W. A. Collis, as chairman of the memorial committee, introduced the Rev. A, C. Seivewright, who, as minister of the church of which the late Mr Ambury was a member, had been asked to give tfie address for the occasion.

Mr Seivewright said the assemblage had gathered to honor the memory of a man whom it was impossible to honor too highly. The speaker referred .to the tragedy of June 3 last, which, be etld, was relieved by the heroic self-sacrifice of Arthur Hamilton Ambury. Those who knew him best knew that his last act was ici perfect harmony with the controlling spirit of his life—a spirit of which he, perhaps, was the least conscious. His sacrifice on Mt. Egmont was not a solitary manifestation of self-abnegation; it was but the culmination of a life of tnoughtfulness and helpfulness for others. This sacrifice was worthy of being placed ou a level with the noblest sacrifices, and with the most heroic deeds of the battlefields of Europe, and while such sacrifices continue to be offered the spirit of true chivalry would continue to be enshrined in the heart of humanity. The speaker then referred to the appropriateness in fixing the unveiling on Good Friday. Standing there, beneath,.as>it were, the sacrifice made, none could help but feel proud that they could call him who made the sacrifice their friend, and to have been associated with him in even a small degree. And so would be crowned his noble and imperishable deed with the laurel leaves of the highest esteem of his friends and all who knew him. Concluding, Mr. Seivewright said: May the memory of this noble and generous sacrifice be enshrined in our hearts —especially In the hearts of the boys and girls—and may it stimulate us and inspire us to nobler ends, and constrain us to nobler ways. Then this great sacrifice shall not have been in vain, so far as we are con* cerned, for its spirit shall descend upon us in Divine beneftcience, and Its fruits shall become'imperishable in our char-' acters and lives.

His Worship the Mayor of New Plymouth (Mr. C. H. Burgess) then, in a few appropriate words, unveiled the obelisk, which had been draped With the Union Jack, and the ceremony concluded.