ON FOREIGN SOIL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 48, 20 November 1917, Page 8

ON FOREIGN SOIL

COMPLIMENT TO NEW ZEALAND SOLDIER. The following correspondence tells how Hie Government of the French colony of Tahiti paid a graceful compliment i:o a New Zealand soldier who was buried at Papeete. The Defence Minister received this letter from tho British Consulate at Tahiti:— "At tho time the No. 1 hospital ship was in the port one of the wounded, Sergeant Boy ,T. Leslie, of Onehunga, died, and was buried with military honours. His Excellency the Governor of Tahiti, on behalf of the Administration, moat graciously gave tho burial plot, and ha I has since expressed his intention to erect a suitable monument in concrete and | surround it with an iron fence. As they hajre no means of manufacturing a plats here, His Excellency suggested that perhaps the Government of New Zealand would be willing to roako a copper or brass plate tho exact size of the sheet of paper enclosed, that is, twelve,inches square; the inscription, as outlined, to be engraved in Roman letters, the sentence at tho bottom to be in small Roman letters. Should there be no funds set aside by the Government for such a thing, if you will be gracious enough to have the work done this Consulate will bear the expense. His Excellency informed mo that it is his intention to have photos taken of the completed work to bo 6ent to tho family of the deceased. I may add that the British subjects resident here will see to it that the grave is kept in order and supplied with flowers.'*

The Minister's reply follows:— "Tour letter of October 9 has just reached me, and I would like you to convey to His Excellency the Governor of Tahiti the thanks of myself and the New Zealand Government for his gracious gift of a burial plot in connection with the late Serjeant Eoy J. Leslie, No. 2/577. His Excellences intention to erect a suitable concrete monument and surround the grave with an iron fence is greatly appreciated, and I shall ho pleased if you will intimato this fo His Excellency. It will afford the Government of New Zealand much pleasure to supply a brass plate, inscribed as desired, and the work will be put in hand immediately. The plate will be shipped to you when completed. The offer of your Consulate to bear the expense in this respect is valued, but the cost will be charged to this State. Please also thank His Excellency for his kind intention to have photographs taken of the grave and monument for presentation to the next-of-kin. If copies are procurable I should like to receive, say, half a dozen, so that, the weekly illustrated papers in New. Zealand could reproduce them to publicly express the gratitude of the citizens of this Dominion to His Excellency for the deep interest he has so graciously displayed in the affairs of a New Zealand soldier buried on French poil, not far from the land of his birth. The intention of tho British residents of Tahiti to keep tho grave in order and garlanded with flowers is noted, and I trust you will let it be known that this kind forethought on their part will not be forgotten by the Government and people of New. Zealand. I am taking the liberty of forwardjng a copy of your letter to "the relatives of the deceased soldier and also to the Press of this Dominion."