TRIBUTE TO SHEEP DOG

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31623, 8 March 1968, Page 8

TRIBUTE TO SHEEP DOG

“The whole idea of commemorating all hard-work-ing sheep dogs is delightful, symbolic, even mystical and appeals to me immensely,” said the Gov-ernor-General (Sir Arthur Porritt) when he unveiled a monument in honour of the collie dogs of New Zealand at Lake Tekapo yesterday.

The Governor-General and his family were welcomed on their first visit to Lake Tekapo by a lone piper standing On the glacial knoll near the edge of the lake where the monument to the dog was later unveiled.

The knoll is covered with plants representative of the original vegetation of the Mackenzie tussock, speargrass and matagouri—and commands a fine view of lake and mountains.

The statue of the dog is mounted on a large rock brought from the Jollie River on Mount Cook station and this, in turn, stands on a double ring of greywacke boulders from the hoodThe chairman of the Mackenzie branch of Federated Farmers (Mr A. T. Murray) presented the Governor-Gen-eral with a woollen rug in the Mackenzie tartan from the local farmers. Sir Arthur Porritt said he felt that he should divulge that on his mother’s side he was a Mackenzie. To the best of his knowledge he was not related to the first Mackenzie but it did him good to see the rug.

“May I appeal to you to guard your heritage of scenery. Do not allow too much development to mar the natural beauty,” he said. Mr Murray, whose organisation sponsored the monument, raised finance and organised the function, said the placing of the monument near the Church of the Good Shepherd associated the memorial to the pioneers and recognition of the faithful servant. The chairman of the Mackenzie County Council, Mr H. W. Fisher, welcomed Sir Arthur Porritt and Lady Porritt and Miss Joanne Porritt, and Mr R. L. G. Talbot, M.P. for Ashburton, extolled the virtue of the sheep dog. The photograph shows the Governor-General with the statue of the dog soon after it was unveiled.