TURUTURU-MOKAI MEMORIAL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 19 July 1929, Page 4

TURUTURU-MOKAI MEMORIAL.

(To the Editor). Sir, —1 had' hoped to write on this subject at the time of the anniversary of the fignt at this place, but indisposition prevented me. When I read the report of our worthy Mayor’s speech just previous to his election, when ho stated 'that if elected on© of the first matters to which he would direct the attention of the council would b© the erection of a. memorial at Turuturu. I rejoiced, thinking that my .self-appoint-ed and not too pleasant job of “city remembrances’’ Iliad come to an end, and as the; funds in hand! being, in the general opinion, sufficient for la modest memorial, that the work was as good as done. Such apparently not .going to he the ease, I take up my pen again to keep up the agitation, as promised, as Jong as 1 live or as occasion requires. Last summer a friend drove me up the Turuturu Road, stopping at the Tawhiti crossing. I saw for the first time the gate and notice mentioned by in’s- valued friend Mr Elliott. I hud not unnaturally hitherto looked for these 1 at or near the site of the redoubt. All tourists and most others seeing this notice board and looking across at the outline against the sky of the noble and ancient pa would mistake this for the redoubt and exdiaim, “What a strong redoubt it must have have been, and such a good position,” and perhaps get busy with note or sketch book. Rising the hill, we .stopped at the site of the tragedy of long ago, and. being somewhat of a crock, I' asked my friend to inspect the spot. He reported that there was no gate or notice board, neither on looking through the fence could li© see trace of parapet or trench, the spot being marked only by a. clump of the g’oomy pines of the period. _Afr statement re finance was made, I confess, when in entire ignorance of the true position, this ignorance being the result of the mystery with which the council veiled its actions until the illuminating statement, of our town ©’•'■>*■V was published. Even Mr. Findlay, than whom no one knew or took more interest in affairs of this nature, writing to the “Star” on July 12. 1928 made the available funds to amount to no less thon £BSO. From this, however, had to be' substraeted the Government subsidy, which, for reasons not- stated, the council have been seemingly unable to collect. Irb is not for me to make suggestions, but I may be allowed to express the opinion that, being left without, funds for genI e.ra.l pur noses, the council might with advantag-’ revert to their former policy nml let the reserve for grazing. For this purpose it should command at least ,tlire.e times the rent. £l2 per annum, formally obtained, which would leave a margin for the upkeep of fences, etc., but most important of ail. the stock would prevent the reserve from becoming over-run with weeds and wild growth. Thanking you, sir. for your space., and for the kindly interest, expressed in v/rir leader of the 12th inst., and confident'v looking for your further support in the above matter, I am, etc., OLD TIMER . Hawera. July 18. [Since the above letter was written it bns been .announced that the funds in hand wil‘l be expended 1 on_ the construction of a. calm on the site of the redoubt.—Ed. “Star.”]