ST. MARY'S CHURCH.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 November 1920, Page 4

ST. MARY'S CHURCH.

MEMORIAL TO THE FALLEN. ERECTION OF TOWER FAVORED. The question of the erection of a suitable memorial to the memory of the men who fell during the European war was discussed at ,a meeting of St. Mary's parishioners last night. The vicar (Rev. P. (i. Harvie) presided. Prior to the discussion of the proposal, the meeting rescinded a resolution passed at a meeting in January, whereby the appeal for the memorial was deferred until the completion of the Sunday school building project. The vicar explained that the proposed new Sunday school and Parish Hall was to be a peace memorial, and for a soldiers' memorial tho addition of a tower, to the church had been mooted at the previous meeting. Personally, lie would like to see a tower erected, but as about £ISOO or £2OOO would be needed he thought the cost was prohibitive at present. The parish, however, ought to tie capable of subscribing £SOO. The vicar stated that he had received promises of subscriptions totalling about £l5O from relatives of men who had made the supreme sacrifice. Mrs. Conrtenay suggested that an effort be made to get the townspeople to join in, as a tower would be a most suitable form of memorial to the public. Mr. W. H. Skinner said he did not think it would be possible to raise the amount; and he also expressed the opinion that the meeting must look at the question from a congregational point of view. He moved that an effort be made towards raising not less than £SOO for a soldiers' memorial. In seconding this resolution, Mr. S. W. Shaw said many would no doubt prefer to see n tower, erected. If sufficient money could not he raised for this scheme they would have to be content with something else, as they must have a memorial. Mr. H. Fookes remarked that a tower would appeal to the majority of people as a memorial. An amendment in favor of a definite tower proposal was withdrawn. After some discussion the following further amendment was carried: That a committee be appointed to collect funds and when £SOO or more is in view report to a later meeting as to the form the memorial should take This present meeting recommends, if funds permit, that the committee favorably consider the memorial taking the form of a tower. A suggestion made earlier in the meeting by Mrs. Stnndish that a memorial tablet in brass be erected in the church immediately, and be incorporated in the larger memorial later, was also adopted. The following committee (with power to add) was set up in connection with the raising of funds: Mesdames Standish, Driir v, Martin and Code, and Messrs. W. H. Skinner, T. C. List, S. Shaw, and A. R. Stnndish.