WAR MEMORIALS.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 April 1920, Page 2

WAR MEMORIALS.

WHAT N.Z. TOWNS ARE DOING. The Dominion recently circularised the Mayors of all boroughs in New Zealand Hiking for particulars with regard to war memorials if any that were about to lie erected. The following is a sumniary of the replies:— Onehunga.—Soldiers' memorial park anil museum. A domain of »J acres in the borough, viz., "Jellicoe Park,'' is to be laid out in first-class style, with up-to-date children's playground, tennis courts, etc., and the old blockhouse, dating from the Maori War days, is to be converted into a War Trophies Museum. Cost, estimated at £3500; to be raised by loan by the borough. Devonport.—A monument to he ercctpd to cost about £3OOO. A sum of .CJOIlfl has. been rained by organised house-to-house canvass, collection being made only in the evenings when heads of households are at home.

Cambridge—A marble granite column, surmounted by a figure to cost £4OOO at first proposed, but as it will not uc possible lo raise more than £2OOO a new design is to be obtained. The Mayor has suggested a cenotaph. The sum of £-1500 is already subscribed.

Kotorua.—Memorial to be artistic rather than utilitarian. Competitive designs to be called for. All men in Group Area Xo. 17 who fell to be commemorated. A sum of £SOOO is to be aimed at, to be raised by subscriptions, entertainments, sales of work, etc.

llarton.—A column is to bo erected upon a series of steps, with a full base with four sides for the names of the fallen, and a cross is to be embodied also on each face. Cost, estimated at £ISOO to £2OOO, to be raised by public subscription in borough and district. Feilding.—Monument in Aberdeen granite, about 35 feet, high, names of all men from the town who lost their lives in the war to be inscribed on the base. Monument to be placed in the square in centre of town- Cost estimated at £3500, to be raised by special loan, poll jret to be taken. Most of the surrounding country districts have already erected local memorials, A district scheme for scholarships for soldiers' children is under discussion. It is proposed that the Borough Council and the three neighboring counties shall form a fund sufficient for sis scholarships to be open to all children under thirteen of men wno served overseas, and to be awarded after competitive examination in the public school. Hastings.—Auxiliary hospital and maternity home at Hastings and monuments at Hastings and Havelock North but only a very small proportion of the money to be spent on the monuments. Estimated cost, £25,000; about £15,0(10 now in hand, money being raised by public subscription under committee representative of the town and district local bodies.

Waipukurau —A public meeting decided on a monument, but owing to lack of support, and some opposition, the proposal was abandoned. The Mayor is obtaining designs and estimates for a memorial swimming, pool, and these, when complete, will be submitted to the Borough Council, and later to a public meeting, with a view to raising funds liy subscription. Cost at present uncertain. Woodville.—Meniorial Town Hall to contain public library, reading-room, and municipal offices. Tablets of marble or brass will be placed on the walls, of the vestibule of the Town Hall. Estimated sost £12,000; money to be raised by loan; poll'of'ratepayers not yet takenEketahuna. —An unsuccessful effort was made by the Borough Council to arrange for the purchase of 40 acres of Land in the centre of the town, one of the beauty spots of the district, as a memorial park. The land was to cost £OO per aero, but has since been sold for £<S4. JSTo interest was shown by residents, and the matter has been abandoned. C'hristehurch.—After the discussion of various alternatives it has been decided to erect < a "Hall of Memories," i.e., a rawed sanctuary of art and statuary. The cost is estimated at £25,000 and is to' be raised by voluntary subscription, the canvass not yet having begun. A special citizens' committee has the matter in hand. Ashburton—The local bodies of the county are combining to erect a memorial, which it has been decided shall not bo. one of utility. No decision lias been .reached as to the cost. The money is to be raised by subscription. West Harbor (Dunedin).—An obelisk 10ft Oin high in reinforced concrete is to bo erected, with four marble slabs for the names, etc. There arc IS2 names of living and dead soldiers to be inscribed. The cost is estimated at £225, and £227 has been collected by canvassing the district. Roxburgh.—At a meeting of citizens it was decided to erect a memorinl, which will either take the form of a monument or of public baths. The money is to be raised by public subscription. The cost has not yet been estimated.