UNVEILING OF THE MOUTOA MONUMENT.

West Coast Times, Issue 101, 13 January 1866, Page 3

UNVEILING OF THE MOUTOA MONUMENT.

[From tho Wunyuniti Chronicle, Doe. 27.] This monument, which now graces the Market- place of Wanganui, was formally uncovered by his Honor the Superintendent yesterday afternoon. It has been creeled by tho Province of Wellington, at a cost of between' L7OO and LBOO, in commemoration of a victory obtained by several hundred Friendly natives over a band of Ilauhavis at Mnutoa, after an engagement in which n number of the former as Well as the latter were slain. The monument has already been described in tho Chronicle,, it is therefore sufficient to repeat that al though somewhat diminu--tive in size, it i« otherwise a perfectly finished work of art. The base is of polished Victoiian stone, closely resembling granite, the pedestal and sculptured figure of Grief surmounting it arc of while marble. Tho work was executed by Huxley and Parker, Melbourne. A low iron railing, formed by arrows neatly crossed, encloses .the whole. On one side of the pedestal is the following inscription: — " Kna Wlmkaarahia tenei torn a c tc para wine o Werctaua hei Whukamaharatanga mo nga toa tana i Kinga ki Moutoa i te 14 a NgaVa o mci 1801, te awhinatanga i tc noho-p;u v ukina ana c iign ritonga kino o^iamnta ctowhakapono-porangi." The opposite sido has a free translation of the , above, thus :—": — " To the memory, of those bravo men who fell at Moutoa, Mth May, 1864, in defence of law and order, against fanaticism and barbaiism, this monument is erected by tho Province of Wellington. Tho third side contains the names of tlhi friendlies who fell in tho fight — /Kno nga tangau cnei i kinga ki MoUtoa : — Henri Nape Koroti te Hiwnfclii Wiari to Patu) lliwai Tawlu'tovangi Horeinia ie llnngita-

kuku renolito to Korowa Rotoliiko Waitoki Munihoni Muni. \Vireinu to Waiuiu Halminia te.Uinki Wftiona to Polio Pehiniiu te Koliiiortnirii I [Matin tc Potalii Ilohopa tc Wlmkaniku Lay ttrother E-ilogo The remaining side contains the brief but important statement : — " 4th September, ISC". Isaac Etui Featlierstono, Superintendent." About haft-past three o'clock his Honor came upon the ground, accompanied by 1). S, Durie, Esq., R. M., and W. L. Bui' or, Esq., Native Magistrate, and Having ascended a temporary platform erected beside the monument, ho gave a short address, which we 10gret to say, was very imperfectly heard, even by those near him. We could only catch a stray sentence, but tho gi-*t of the subject was obvious. We understood his Honor to say that there wcro no surer means of promoting and perpetuating a spirit of nationality and patriotism than by publicly acknowledging the value of the great services rendered to. one's country, and by handing down to posterity the names of those who had distinguished themselves in the cause of order and liberty. And this course was proper and becoming, not only or so much with the object of paying a tribute- of gratitude to heroes and .statesmen, although that was most commendable, as of exciing other men to follow their e.\ample,and thus to foittcr a spirit of generous emulation and national glory Ilenee it was that the account of distinguished .aclrievments occupied a prominent ' place in • the historical ' records of all groat natiphs and tho memory of them had always been fondly cherished by a grateful peoplo, tt was tQ this twofold d^ive thut they

owed the highest triumphs of genius in the arts of painting and sculpture. Men dissatisfied with the •mere historical record of great deeds sought to perpetuate them on the glowing canvas and in tho durable nvirble. It was in accordance with this feeling th it the Montoa monument had been creeled. Ho was convinced that it would be an incentive to their native allies to stand fast in the cause of law and order. Everyone undcititood the (eel ing that wa.s excited among British soldiers by the presentation of the Victoria Cross. When that distinguished honor was conferred on any one of their number, there was not a man in all the ranks but felt fired with the ambition to strive after a similar glorious distinction. In the same way ho felt convinced that their native allies looking upon this monument, before accompanying General Chute on his expedition, would not rest satisfied until the foul murderers of Keriti'antl others were duly punished. At the conclusion of his speech, the Supeiintcndent drew aside the covering which had hitherto concealed the nculpturc of the monument, and tho whole 1 stood revealed to viow. Mrs, Colonel Logan then gracefully unfurled the flag. Three cheers were given, and this part" of the programme terminated. It is v native monument to commemorate native prowess, yet, curiously enough, no native look part in the ceremony, and tho Superintendent's speech couid have beeil no more than dumb show to

the Maoris. There was somehow a lack of spontaneity and enthusiasm about the affair, which, us it was done, suggests a pity that it could not have been done more heartily.