THE CENTENNIAL

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 65, 16 March 1940, Page 14

THE CENTENNIAL

CITY MEMORIAL

MOUNT VICTORIA LOOK-OUT

OPENING CERMONY

Amongst the Dominion's Centennial memorials, Wellington City's, the lookjout on Mount Victoria, unveiled by the Mayor (Mr. T. C. A. Hislop> yesterday afternoon, has a unique appeal, first by its simplicity, and next by its Imperial note. It links past and present tin a way that will make future generations who climb up to it to see the, panoramas in which Wellington's, and' much of New Zealand's, history way made, realise that, after all, this country is part of an Empire, however if may grow in ideals, wealth, and population. Few, inspecting the bronze busts which perpetuate the memories of warrior and statesman, standing out in profile against the background of promontory and inlet,' city and beach, which was the cradle of New Zealand settlement, and further away the blue sea- 'to which England owes so much, can fail to think.. It is the thoughts aroused by the city's contribution to Dominion memorials, .rather, than its imposing nature, that- make it worth while. Wellington and Wakefield, one feels, were instruments in'a past pointing the way to a steadfast future in which the thousands of homes on the hundred surrounding hills • will have their -worthy part.

Space- round the memorial "is scant, and only invited- guests, who1 arrived in two buses, were present. As in all high spots in Wellington yesterday., the strong northerly wa^ fully felt on Mt. Victoria, and the proceedings were brief.-

Mr.' Hislop pointed out that the surrounding wall and a great part of the base of the structure were built of stone from Waterloo Bridge, opened by the Duke of Wellington in 1817, generously given by the London. County ■ Council. Besides being a splendid, viewpoint, the memorial commemorated, the Duke, after whom Wellington was nanied, and the founder of Wellington, Edward Gibbon Wakefield.

Removing a blue ensign, the.'Mayor revealed their busts, which' '• are on opposite sides of one of the piers supporting the spreading reinforced roof. The asides of the memorial are open all round, giving unobstructed views' of nearly the whole of p Wellington's suburbs. In the centre of the ..floor, between the piers, is a circular pedestal with an enclosed map' of the district set in copper, from which, radiating lines point to places of interest. TRIBUTE TO THE DUXE 1. Mr. Hislop traced the brilliant career of the Duke of Wellington. after entering the Army at the age of 17, his victories at Assaye-in 1803, "when he defeated the Mahratta forces of 50,000 - men and 128 guns with 7500 men and 17 guns, and in his' Portugal campaign, where he defeated the greatest- Marshals of France, concluding by-defeat-ing Napoleon, with the assistance of - Blucher, at Waterloo, ' in- •' 1815.- He stressed the fairness -of- -his -dealings with conquered' peoples,- and\the refusal to help himself from-the spoils of his conquests. -After" Waterloo he was largelys-respensible -for keeping the peace "in Europe,;. ssidXwaS -appointed Chief Commissioner'of -Arbitration by ~ all the rulers of the' Continent. '•

Detailing how it was Wakefield's persuasion of the Duke to look into a Bill for the colonisation of South Australia which, through Wellington's influence, led to the passing of. the Bill by the House of Lords, Mr.' Hfslop, said that Wakefield had promised' Wellington that the capital of South Australia would be called after him, but .the' Commissioners named it Adelaide. By persuading the directors of the New Zealand Company to name this city l "Wellington' instead of "Britannia," Wakefield redeemed his frustrated, promise.

The look-out was designed by Mr. W. Gray Young and erected 'by th» Fletcher Construction Company; •