DOMINION LINK WITH ENGLISH VILLAGE

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 297, 12 September 1934, Page 6

DOMINION LINK WITH ENGLISH VILLAGE

Memorial to Marsden THE UNVEILING CEREMONY (From a London Correspondent.) London, August 3. Parsley is a small village of a few old-fashioned houses about five miles from Leeds in the heart of Yorkshire. Its one main street slopes steeply downwards from the old parish church built on its highest point. Parsley’s link with New Zealand is thtit it is tlie birthplace of the Rev. Samuel Marsden. The house in which he was born still stands, half-day down the mam street. Next to this house at one time stood a warehouse, and In this building was stored a parcel of wool of under 2()01bs. weight, which Marsden brought with him to England when after some years in Australia as chaplain to the Convict Settlement at Botany Bay he visited his home—the first Australian wool to be brought to England. A few years ago this old warehouse was given to the Farsley Urban Council. It has now been pulled down ami on the site has been erected a monument to Marsden. This monument on Saturday last, July 28—the 170th anniversary of Marsden's birth—was unveiled in the presence of a great gathering of village residents and people from the surrounding country.

Village people dressed InJ Sunday best crowded around the site, and across the road, and Others filled the windows of the quaint old houses wltii their warped shingled roofs, that must have been there when Marsden himself passed along that way as a boy. New Zealand Represented.

New Zealand fittingly had prominent representation at this ceremony in the person- of its High Commissioner, Sir James Parr; who travelled from London by the morning train to attend it Sir James was given a seat beside the chairman of the Farsley Urban District Council who presided at the gathering. Sir Frederick Ackroyd, president of the British Wool Federation, whose name Is not unknown In New Zealand as the exponent of the Wensleydale sheep, unveiled the monument. This monument is of stone of Old English architecture, with a centre piece and two . wings—spreading altogether about 32 feet. On the left wing is engrossed a brief recital of Marsden’s work as cfiaplain to the Botaiiy Bay convicts and, of his missionary work in New Zealand; on the right wing are recorded the facts regarding the site as the early repository of the first wool from Australia; while the centre portion, bears at the top a ram's head, the appropriate arms of thO ; village, and underneath a brphee cast Of Marsden and . a dedication iiiscription, i Sir James I’urr's Address. After an address by Sir Frederick Ackroyd, Sir James Parr spoke. “I am .glad,” lie said, “to take part, on behalf of New Zealand, in this extretnely interesting ceremony. , New Zealand and Yorkshire have near kinship. Two great Ybrkshiremen played great parts In making New Zealand a part of the British Empire and In bringing religion and civilisation to its shores—l mean Captain James Cook and tlie Reverend Samuel Marsden." Professor Elder told how, through the gift from Dr. Hocken of his wonderful collection of Marsden manuscripts, the Otago University had an unusual interest in Marsden. The university had decided some time ago to publish these records, and this had been done. 1 Mrs. E. M, Gaunt, who was largely responsible for the erection of the monument and who placed, at its foot a wreath from the students of the Hull Grammar School, at which Marsden had received his early education, briefly recited a few facts concerning the early life of Marsden —the intellectual sou of numble parents, the diligent student, the university graduate. Another speaker was the Rev. Sydney Nicholson, of the London Missionary Society, under the auspices of which Marsden did so much missionary work. The cereiridny ended with a benediction by the vicar of Farsley. Memorial Collages, Those present then went a little dlstdnee fo wliere six cottages, to form Marsden Memorial Homes for aged indigent workers in tile wool Industry, are to be erected—gifts from local people. Two foundations stones were laid, ono by the New Zealand High Commissioner and ohe by Sir Frederick Aykroyd. 1 Sir James was presented with an ebony mallet, silver-mounted and suitably inscribed.