LADY FERGUSSON'S MONUMENT.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3501, 26 September 1882, Page 4

LADY FERGUSSON'S MONUMENT.

The Homeward Mail says : ' The monument ordered by his excellency the Governor of Bombay, to be placed on the grave of Lady Fergusson, was almost completed when the mail loft. The work has been executed by Messrs P. Hamilton and Co., the sculptors, in a manner that reflects the greatest credit on them. Since the lamented death of Lady Fergusson a cross of polished teak wood, bearing the inscription ' Olive, R.LP.,' has marked her grave, with a few flowering plants at one end. In the meantime, however, the design of a memorial was submitted, and after undergoing certain alterations, it was placed in the hands of the sculptors. The work has been unavoidably delayed, owing to a late transit of the marble from Jeypore. The bottom slab of the monument, which is of country trap stone, measuring 7ft 6in. in length by 4ft. 9in. in width, has already been placed on the grave. Black Jeypore marble has been employed for the second slab, on the sloping surface of which is the inscription. The letters are in gold ; they are li inch in size, and have been cut into the stone to the depth of half an inch. At the top end is the Christian name of Lady Fergusscn, wife of the Governor of Ror_bay ; ' and on the left side, ' Departed this life, Bth January, 1882. R.I.P.' The slab is one solid piece of marble, half a foot in thickness, and measuring 6f fc Gin by 3ft 9in. Over this is placed another slab of solid Jeypore marble, a foot in thickness. It is of a beautiful pink color, and when fully prepared will throw off an excellent polish. The slab is sft 9in in length, and 2ft 9in in width, and has been designed after what is technically termed the 'ledger pattern,' with a plain cross on the top surface. An ornamental railing is to be placed round the grave. The body of this railing will be coloured brown, and the tracery is to be in blue and gold. It is 2ffc 2in in height, Oft in length, and 4ft Sin in width, and will be supported by blocks of stone. Taken as a whole, the monument with its simple inscription is a beautiful yet unostentatious memorial of the deceased lady. On arrival from Poona at the Byculla station, on May 26, Sir James Fergusson, accompanied by his daughter, sister, and staff, proceeded direct to the establishment of Messrs P. Hamilton and Co., where they inspected the monument. His Excellency expressed to Mr Hamilton his entire approval of the in which the work has been executed.'