THE GREY STATUE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 41, 17 February 1900, Page 3

THE GREY STATUE.

GOVERNMENT GRANT AVAILABLE.

The erection of the long1 talked-ot statue to Sir George Grey in Auckland now appears to be assured.. The committee have, as will be seen below, been promised the Government grant of £1000, making1 the sum available IiIGOO. Mo doubt subscriptions of additional amounts* will also be received from the general public.

A meeting' of the. Sir George Grey I statue sub-committee was held on ■January 18, when it was decided to make application to the Government for the full sum voted by Parliament for a statue to Sir Georg-e Grey last session. In accordance a letter wns 'sent to ii;-.- Premier as follows: — Auckland, January 18, 1900. i The iiight Hon. ft. J. Seddon, Premier, Wellington: Sir,—The committee having1 charge of the movement for the erection in this city of a statue in memory of Sir George Grey bep;s to bring- the subject again I under your notice. This committee, | known as the working committee, : was appointed by the large general leommitree elected by the public, and | consists of the gentlemen whose names are at foot. The total sum towards the statue raised here will amount to about six hundred pounds (£(500). and having- regard to the engrossing- character of the collecting now proceeding' for the patriotic fund we do not anticipate any further increase to the Grey fund. We have been in correspondence with firms engaged in statuary work, and by this and other means have arrived at a general understanding- as to the kind of statue we desire and how to obtain it, but we purpose procuring still further information before committing- ourselves to any particular artist. One of our members, Mr Sydney Nathan, hon. treasurer to the fund, is about to visit America and Europe, starting- next month. He, at our request, has undertaken to make such detailed inquiry from competent persons—artists and others—regarding- such matters as we still require information upon before we can commission any person to execute the statue. The statue itself is, of course, all we will need to send out of the colony for, the base and other material and work being- procurable locally. In order that Mr Nathan may be in a proper position to accomplish his mission it is of the first inij portance we should be able to instruct him as to the total sum pro--1 posed to be spent in connection with | the statue. We noted with extreme pleasure and thankfulness that during- last session you had a vote of money in support of a Grey .statue passed. In relation to this vote we desire to know whether we will be !warranted or safe in proceeding- upon the assumption that this sum of £1000 will be available in full for our work here, so that we may expend a sum of £1000 in all. Of course you are aware that it is only at Auckland that anything like a successful attempt has been made to raise money towards perpetuating- the memory of Sir George, Dunedin sending- us the small sum raised by them when they sa.w it was hopeless to go further •with the local effort there; other places have, done nothing- at all. Under these circumstances we doubt not you will have concluded, as we have, that the Parliamentary # vote will be best expended by its incorporation with the Auckland fund; and thus secure that the Grey memorial, elected in the city with which he was so closely associated, will be one worthy alike of the man and of the colony. With your assurance that this £1000 can be considered as part of our fund we will confidently proceed to erect upon a magnificent site in this city a monument which by its proportions and artistic merits will afford pleasure and pride to every colonist who looks upon it in the years to come. If, on the other hand, we are unfortunately cramped in our scheme for want of a few hundred pounds, extra, we will be forced to modify our designs to such an extent that the result will be dis- ■ pleasing to all concerned. We will look for your decision upon the matter with confidence, as we well know how much your heart goes out towards a movement designed not only to do honour to a great man departed, but also to instil into the minds of the young people of our colony a lasting respect for his work and memory. We have the honour to be Rio-ht Hon. Sir, your obedient servants, W. J. SPEIGHT, acting , chairman; J. A. Tole, hon. secretary. ; No reply being received, the fol- | lowing- telegram was sent on the 16th

inst.: "Grey statue and my letter of IStn January re Parliamentary grant: Can you give us favourable reply, as Nathan leaving for Europe to-mor^-row?—J. A.. TOLE, hon. sec." This morning the following telegraphic reply was received by Mr Tole from the Premier: "Government have agreed that thousand pounds voted by Parliament is available for suitable statue at Auckland, but it must be a Avork of art and approved by Government,— E. J- SEDDON."