GODLEY STATUE.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16113, 18 January 1918, Page 6

GODLEY STATUE.

TAKEN FROM PEDESTAL. Since ISG6 the Godley stood in the position whic tcrdav it occupicd. but a minutes to six o'clock yesterday niorn inp. it was safely lowered trom its Postal, preparatory to being crec e the Cathedral grounds, facing west, * not east as was erroneously s *j\ c ] yesterday's issue. Probably the only human witness of the operation bes.do. these engaged in it was an car J 1 " photographer, who took up his stam i the vicinitv at 5.15 a.m. Ho . warded for his enthusiasm oy presented to him by the contractor, piece of chain used in moving statue. . , ~^,..,1 The modus operandi ot the rei « was us follows: A strong cable «•- placed under the arms and aero s the shoulders of the figure, giving ■ * V*effect balance, and. with the »U - • three-ton derrick, strongly rigged \wt.i cables, blocks, and supporting ropes lb was lowered to the ground, tjswor.y of note that with the aid ot this apparatus the whole operation ot lifting and lowering was performed by one man, the job being concluded, as stated, at eight minutes to six. 'Mr Ronnoll, of Messrs Rennoll Bros., the contractors, stated to a representative of "The Press" that the r,-eight ot the statue was 35cwt. and that it was 9ft Din over all. It is made of bronze. I being hollow, with a thickness of about ! three-quarters of an inch, and cast by the Cnalbrookdale Company, a Home firm. The top stone of the. pedestal on which it was mounted was decayed with years, and was being carefully taken down in three pieces. \A hen the statue is re-erected, this stone will be replaced by a block of a somewhat different composition. AH the other stones in the pedestal will be retained. "When are you going to take the« figure over?" Mr Rennell was asked. "Oh," he renlied, "I don't propose taking it over until everything i s ready for it o n the Cathedral grounds, with the pedestal and base built up. The figure will face west, and it and the pedestal will be raised up on a concreto baso 2ft Gi n high, with the lawn graded uj) to the top of the concrete, as it is here." Up to knock-off time yesterday evening those engaged in the work of demolishing the pedestal had not come across any signs of the old newspapers, or old coins that are sometimes placed at the bottom of stones and pedestals of statues. There is a rumour afloat that a bottle of spirits was placed under the pedestal of the Godley statue. The time when it is anticipated that? this treasure will bo reached is being kept a secret, ns it is fearod that tliero will not be sufficient to satisfy the relic-hunters who might attend in large numbers if the hour were specified. TO THE EDITOR OF "TKE TRESS." Sir.—Had "Disgusted Ratepayer" exercised but a little thought before penning his letter he would have realised that undoubtedly the Godley statue should be placed facing north. Statues when placed adjacent to any building are always placed with their backs to them, for the very reason that the statue is then always viewed in relation with the building. You cannot look at the one without seeing the other, and the ideas .met train of thought created by both are in perfect harmony. Godley was closely associated with the Church, and no more fitting spot could be found for his statue. When standing in the best position for seeing it, the commercial buildings and picture advertisements will be behind the spectator, and the entire background for the statue will bo the Cathedral —the church which stands as the sj'mbol of the aims and objects of tho early colonists with whom Godley was associated. From an artistic point of view also, the position facing north is best, ns tho stat-uc will then be well lighted for a longer time during the dav than it would be if placed in any other position.—Yours, etc.. S. HURST SEAGER.