NORTHCOTE WAR MEMORIAL.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 37, 13 February 1926, Page 17

NORTHCOTE WAR MEMORIAL.

* . EMBLEMATICAL OF SEX.VICE. ' UXVEILIXG OX SUNDAY. The Xorthcote War Memorial * has been completed and the ceremony of the unveiling by the Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. J. Rollestonl takes place at three o'clock on Sunday afternoon. In addition to the Minister, addresses will be given by the Minister of Education (Sir -Tames Farr). Mr. A. Harris. M.P., the Mayor of Xorthcote (Mr. C. A. Deuxberryi. Lieut. Judson. V.C., and Major W. T.. tarter I representing the returned soldiers). 3lr. W. E. Richardson (chairman of *"the Memorial Committee), will present 'the monument to the- Borough Council. . and the '"Last Post"' will be sounded by Sergeants Rudd and Skinner. The Beys. Carew Thomas and S. L. Boot will officiate, and the Birkenhead Borough Band (under Bandmaster H. GregSmith), and the combined choirs (oi which Mr. H. W. Wilson is the conductor), will furnish the musical portion of the service. The Xorthcoce anri Birkenhead Senior Cadets (Lieut. t Mc Donald, 0.C.), will form the guard ol honour. ' The decision to erect a war memoria was arrived at on May 4. 1920, by the Xorthcote Women's Progressive League which made itself responsible for tb< raising of the funds for the purpose The plans were approved by the Xorth cote Borough Council, the Aucklanc Board of Education, and the Xortheoti School Committee, and an Order-in Council was gazetted on May 18, 1922 authorising the Borough Council t< erect a parmanent war memorial. Tlv design selected was that of Messrs Grierson, Aimer, and Draffin, who hay acted throughout as honorary archi tects, as a donation to the object. Th cost of the shelter and shrine was £69 12/11, and the pergolas £166, a total o £864 12/11. The Memorial Committe consisted of Messrs. W. E. Richardsoi (chairman). D. P. O'Lcary, J. B. Tona and J. T. Fearnley, and the represents fives of the Xorthcote Women's Pr< gressive League, viz., Mesdames D. P O'Learv (president), A. Tavlor (seen tary)'. \j. W. .McLaughlin, J. B. Tona: W. E. Richardson, G. Fraser. W. K. 1 Stewart, Misses Couldrey and Tremaii Design of ilemorial. The. design of" the war memoria which is Italian Renaissance, is uniqt; in the Dominion. At the corner of th primary school ground, and frontin Onewa Road and Lake Road, a simpl rectangular shelter accommodates tl waiting passengers on the motor bt services. Access to the shelter is ol tamed through three arched opening OnpoMte the principal opening isa sem circular apse, forming a memorial shrin The walls of this recess are panelled i marble, upon which are inscribed tl names of the men of Xorthcote wr. gave'their lives in the service of the country. The floor of this memorii altar is flagged in marble, and the nami and other memorial emblems arc pr tected from possible vandalism by w rought-iron grill, which closes tl . entrance to the apse, yet leaves tbe whole space visible from the shelter. A brilliant light from glass prisms concealed in the ceiling of the apse falls on the names and inscription; so that, viewed from the comparative obscurity of the shelter, the names of Xorthcote's heroes stand out in bold relief upon the white marble panels of the shrine. The inscription in the frieze above the marble panels reads: '"'To the memory °f the men of Xorthcote who laid down their lives in the Great War"; and on a central panel, flanked by standards hearing the Union Jack and Xew Zealand Ensign: "This memorial -was erected in grateful recognition of the service rendered to their country by those whose names are here inscribed; 1914-1918." Below this inscription rests a bronze emblem of Service and achievement. Immediately behind the shelter is a pergola of massive piers and timbers, giving access to the Xorthcote primary school, so that the children of the district have constantly before them the emblems of service and heroism. The simple lines of the white shelter with its red tiled roof and supporting pergola, form a dignified group in which the architects have fittingly expressed 'he district's reverence and appreciatior •f achievements of its manhood.