WATKINS MEMORIAL.

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 October 1933, Page 12

WATKINS MEMORIAL.

[to THE EDITOR.] Sl r ,—When reading about the pioneers of the Grey district, none appears, to me, more worthy of admiration than the Rev. G. T. Watkins, whose self-sacrifice and work for others were such as to make his generation determine to preserve his memory so that later generations could be reminded of him, and his good deeds, and perhaps be inspired to copy his example. Can it be said that Greymouth people of to-day are keeping his memory green? The condition of his grave in the Karoro cemetery shows little evidence of grateful care. In Holy Trinity Church, a fine window, above the altar, was erected to his memory, but for the last two years or so, curtains have been placed in such a position as to hide the lettering stating whose memory the window was intended to commemorate, thus frustrating a primary purpose of the subscribers. The curtains could be lowered sufficiently to prevent any breach of trust, and still retain their aesthetic object. Now comes the announcement that there is to be no presentation of the Watkins medal this year, owing “to the increased price of gold and the high exchange.” It is difficult to see what the “exchange” has to do with the expenditure, unless the medals are imported, and as for the price of gold, few expect a return to the £4 an ounce rate, by next year, if ever. Is the intrinsic value of the medal the main thing to impress upon the children, or the honour of winning - it, whatever its material worth? In any case, the “memorial” purpose seems to be made secondary, and it is the duty of the Trustees to the public and to the school, to give fuller information as to why no medal presentation, is proposed this year, etc., AKAY.