MAORI WAS HEROES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15497, 2 January 1914, Page 6

MAORI WAS HEROES.

MEMORIAL IN AUCKLAND.

CARE OP THE GRAVES.

The perpetuation of the memories of those who in the early and troubled days, of New Zealand, and. particularly of Auckland, fought and died for their flag, was recently *-, taken 'in hand in an active manner, by''the Auckland branch of the Victoria .League, and it is a matter for general satisfaction that the efforts have been, and are being, attended with considerable success.

. Some months ago the league, of which Miss'lSl'atliam"is the Auckland secretary, invited designs by advertisement in the leading New Zealand and Australian newspapers for a suitable memorial to th« fallen sailors, soldiers', and friendly Maoris who. laid down their lives during the Maori war. In response to this invitation several designs have been received from Australia and all parte of New' Zealand, whilst one has come all the way from England. The time for receivingjhe-'designs will close at the end of next week, and it is expected that several more will be received. It is proposed to erect the memorial on the rev serve at the comer of Symonds and. Wakefield Streets, and the Government' has made "a grant of £1000 for the purpose: The following "> advisory, committee, has been appointed to assist, the executive of the Victoria League in the choice of a design J* -11x6 -/Mayor- of ~ Auckland, * Messrs. G. J. Garland* (chairman of the Education Board), A.E. T. Devore (president of the Auckland Art ? Society), Gerald ■ Jones (representing the Arts and Crafts Society), E. W. Payton- (principal of the Elam School *>f. Art),'' 1 LK J. Steele and G. S. Goldsbro (architect),;' ,<

,-.Much• has also been done through the iristffumOiitalily';'of;Hhe Victoria .League in regard to the renovation of the graves of , fallen soldiers; The boy .scouts have done good work".: in this respect'in the Symonds : Street Cemetery, and they ; have agreed to lend similar aid in placing in order v the : graves inrthe ■ Waikaraka .Cemetery: at ; Onehunga, At O'Neii's Point several f graves .; have'.. been put in order, whilst good work ; has' also, been ; do'le at Waimate North, Tauranga, and Drury. At the last-named place the' monument has been cleaned and : protected by : smwble ■supports. -5-At. Whatawfcata (in fch< Waikato) a stone is being erected, and it will bo unveiled/on January 29. -' ,' \ >

■. Miss" Stathara, who has been appointed by the Government as official inspector of the 'graves, will shortly visit a number of other centres where there are cemeteries containing the-graves of j fallen soldiers ?to, arrange for fc the; carrying out of similar work there. These centres include Tuakau, Rangiriri, Te Awamutu, Ngflruawahla, and Pokeno. Miss. Statham will also go to Rotorua Hrisjgrder: to arrange for the renovation of some graves on we NapierTaupo Road. Mr.; Hope, teacher; Of the native '<. school at Rangitukia,"; _' between Napier and Gisborrie/ has also : written, regarding similar work that is needed in that district. " .-; -In the"; Taranalri ; district, similar work has been done in various cemeteries.-,• Am Waitara a monument has been erected ; in the old soldiers', cemetery, whilst at Patea two monuments have '..been erected; one to tha memory of the Imperial and the other to the '\ memory ;of the ;; colonial soldiers. At Normawby the wsidt-nts, j viith Government assistance, have also erected a monument. ... , ■,■-•■. •; ■ ~'