A MONUMENT TO COUNCILLOR JONES.

Bruce Herald, Volume VIII, Issue 798, 28 April 1876, Page 5

A MONUMENT TO COUNCILLOR JONES.

{To the Ztlilor.) Sik, — It has often struck me that we burl 'gesses of the. municipality of Milton arg

backward in recognising the services of our public men. This reflection was forced with great strength upon me whilst I was discussing with my " better half" last Sabbath evening who was the most suitable Councillor to fill the Mayoral chair next Municipal season. Strange to say, Sarah Jane and myself actually agreed (the first time since our marriage in 1848, which eventuated on the \ 24th of November— the very day on •which the Pope tied in disguise from Rome to Gaeta) that Mr R. R. Jones had the strongest claim to fill that honorable post; andi look upon this miraculous coincidence of opinion as an omen of good luck to the gay young Councillor. But, Sir, I do not intend in this letter to demonstrate what is plainer than the sun at noonday, viz., that Jones is the " Coming K." of Toko. No, Shy what I propose is more practical. To use a phrase of dear old Mrs Gamp's (do you know the lady ?), I "propoge " the erection of a monument or statue to perpetuate the remembrance of Councillor Jones' manifold virtues. It is a mistake too often made in this nil admirari age to allow great men to go down to the silent tomb (vide Bracken's soul-stirring ode yclept " Behind the Tomb ") without being (figuratively) patted on tbe back by those whom they have worked for. I have much pleasure in proposing to my fellow ratepayers that we should " monument " Councillor Jones. There is a noble " work of art " in Mr Gilbert's yard, which, with some slight alteration might be made to look marvellously like Mr Jones as he appears when addressing the Town Council. A good stand for the statue might be got on the Railway Station platform. Perhaps the local poet, Mr Goodall, might feel equal to penning an ode on the occasion of the unveiling of the statue. I know about fifty young ladies who are ready and willing to grace the festive scene with their presence. A special train from Dunedin and the Clutha would bring thousands to witness the unveiling of the statue. I beg to propose that a committee should be formed for the purpose of negotiating with Mr Gilbert for the purchase ot the statue forthwith, and for its alteration to accord with Mr Jones' profile. Trusting you will pardon my verbosity — consider the principle I advocate. Consider the man. Fellow citizens ! awake ! or be for ever silent. I am, &c, Spectator. Milton, April 24.