MEMORIAL COLUMN.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18431, 11 July 1925, Page 14

MEMORIAL COLUMN.

THE CASHEL STREET SITE.

FAVOURED BY BEAUTIFYING ASSOCIATION. The executive of the Christehurch Beautifying Association, at a meeting held yesterday afternoon, appointed a deputation to wait on the Column War Memorial Committee to put before it the suggestion that the Column should be erected, at tho western end of Cashel street and tho southern end of Eolleston avenue. In view of the repeated refusals of the City Council to grant tho Godley statue site in Cathedral square for tho Memorial Column, some members of the cxecutivo expressed the opinion that tho committee might be inclined to favour the Cashel street-Rolloston avenue .site. It will be. recalled that this is the site that was suggested some timo ago by Mr S. Hurst Seager. Mr R. E. Owen, at tho meeting of the executive of tho Beautifying Association, produced a sketch, in colours, of the proposed Anzac avenue —as it is suggested that that jiortion of Cashel street from the Bridge of Remembrance to Uolk'ston avenue should be named. This showed trees planted on each side of the street and the Memorial Column in position. Another sketch in colours submitted by Mr Owen showed the proposed Riverside walk to link up the Bridge of Remembrance, the Memorial Column with the Bandsmen's Memorial in Hngley Park, near the Acclimatisation Society's gardens. He mentioned that negotiations had taken place between representatives of the Hospital Board and of the Acclimatisation Society with reference to an exchange of areas, the objeet being to provide a sito for the. Nurses' Home. The proposals :u this matter would have to come before the Domains Board for rati: tion. If agreed" to, this arrangement would make available a. strip of land on the Hospital side of the river for the construction of the Riverside walk, the sketch showing a handsome bridge to give access thereto. Replying to Mr E. H. Andrews, Mr Owen said that the object of continuing the walk on the Hospital side was to ensure that it would be open for traffic at all time; if continued through the Botanic Gardens to tho bridge giving access to the Acclimatisation Garden* this could not be ensured. In addition, the existing bridge was not large enough to deal with large crowds. The proposed new bridge could be used to give a "front door" entrance to'the Hospital. Possibly, the Hospital Board would be able to contribute to the cost of the bridge.

On tho motion of Dr. 0. Chilton, seconded by Mr Owen, it was decided to approach the Column Committee to ascertain if they would fall in with the idea of erecting the Column at the western end of Cashed street. Dr. Chilton and Messrs A. Dudley Dobson and E. ]}. Owen were appointed to wait on the committee.