MT. STEWART MEMORIAL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 39, 16 February 1939, Page 6

MT. STEWART MEMORIAL

THE SCHEME SHELVED CENTENNIAL COMMITTEE SUPPORT PETONE (Own Correspondent). SANDON, Feb. 15. At yesterday’s meeting of the Manawatu County Council information was received that the proposal to erect a Centennial memorial to the pioneers of the Manawatu and neighbouring districts on Mt. Stewart had been dropped. It came as a disappointment to members of the council. The provincial memorial, the council was advised, would, be on Petone beach and would take the form of a hall and bathing pavilion costing £lO,OOO. “We always thought that Mt. Stewart was to be the site of the provincial memorial,” said Cr, R. A. Wilson. Cr. J. H. Perrett said the Petone proposal was now the only one agreed to. Cr. J. Boyce: That means that, Mt. Stewart has fallen through. Cr. Perrett replied in the affirmative and said Mr. W. J. Croucher, n prime mover in the Mt. Stewart scheme, had given up the task because of the disappointing results of his efforts. He had sent out 400 letters and only received one reply, despite the enthusiasm that seemed to be evident at first. Cr. Wilson could not see why the county should spend money at Petone. The town clerk at Feilding, Mr. C. H. Tate, reported that the Manawatu County requirements for the Petone beach Centennial memorial (£10,000) would be £.35. It was proposed to hold a meeting at Feilding to-morrow to consider ways and means of raising the amounts required from Zone E, which comprised Feilding and Marton areas. The meeting would also deal with the question of a roll of early settlers, further proposals for local memorials, and a proposal by Marton to establish and equip a Centennial park in Marton at a cost of £lOOO. Cr. D. W. Reid recalled that the Mt. Stewart scheme had been approved originally a.nd no reason had been given for deleting it. The chairman, Mr. W. E. Barber: It looks like a question of money. Cr. Perrett: Mt. Stewart was quite all right at one time as well as Petone. I would not be in favour of spending a single penny on any memorial on Petone beach. Surely the pioneers of this district are entitled to a memorial that will last for all time. A utility thing like what is proposed is no memorial. The chairman: We can tell them we are prepared to support the Mt. Stewart effort and ’if Wellington won’t help then we will go ahead ourselves. We could get quite a nice memorial at a reasonable cost. Cr. Wilson was informed that the Government was offering a subsidy of £1 for £3. The county clerk. Mr. A. K. Drew, advised that to date the county had spent £ll5 Is 5d on the Mt. Stewart site. Cr. Boyce also could see no reason for sending £35 to Wellington and moved that no action be taken as far as a county donation was concerned. Cr. Wilson seconded the motion, which was carried. Cr. Reid and the county clerk were appointed delegates to the Feilding meeting.