VICTORIA MEMORIAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1412, 24 March 1905, Page 2

VICTORIA MEMORIAL.

UNVEILING CEREMONY.

(Perr Press Association.) Dunedin, last night.

The Queen Victoria memorial statue in Victoria Gardens, or the Triangle as it is known, was unveiled to-day by Lord Plunket in tbe presence of a gathering of about 10,000. The statue, pedestal and basement cost over £3OOO. A member of the committee became personally responsible for £SOO duty, a promise being received that it would bo refunded. Sir H. J. Miller, after briefly tracing the movement which led to the memorial, asked His Excellency to unveil tbe statue, which was the work oi Hampton, a rising soulptor. His Excellency complied with the request, and then addressed the assemblage, referring to the manner in which the late Queen had carried out her duties so as to endear herself to all. Hon. Colonel Pitt followed, and took advantage of tho occasion to congratulate Otago on its 57th anniversary, contrasting Dunedin now with what it was on the occasion of his first visit in 1861. Mr A. Bathgate, chairman of the memorial commit'ee, then handed over charge of the statue to tho Deputy Mayor, Mr Scott, for tho city.' A vote of thanks to the Governor and cheers concluded the proceedings. There was a good muster of volunteers and cadots. There wore 918 school cadets, 223 defence cadots, 345 infantry battalion, 155 brigade troops, making a total of 1647 independent of the. Otago hussars, who provided tbo oecort,