CORRESPONDENCE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXII, Issue LXII, 19 April 1912, Page 5

CORRESPONDENCE.

OLD SOLDIERS' MEMORIAL

fTo the Editor.!

Sir,—At last meeting of die Normanby Imvn Board, sitting as a Cemetery .board, this body resolved to hare the memorial to old soldiers, now in course ot construction, unveiled on May 29 1911. Chatting with some of our'warriors, they failed to see any connection between the date mentioned and the dates when the fatal engagements took place ahont Normanby, but ungraciously hinted that probably the life of the present Board expires on June 1, 1912 and they (the Board) are having the memorial unveiled to commemorate the deeds none by them during their tenure or office. I hope there is no truth m the above suggestion. There is a good deal of sentiment about these memorials aiL i K°*ml should have given leasons why that date was selected, and what event is celebrated. Why not choose July 1-2. an which date, between Hawera and Normanby the little garrison of ruruturn-Mokai was nearly wiped ont of existence, or September *7, when"our troops were defeated, but not beaten at Ie Ngutu-o-te-Manu. I have always thought these memorials were bein«erecteu in memory of the above events It is not too late to alter the date, and I would suggest that the chairman of the Normanby I own Board should interview the cWman of the Winter Show committee and .arrange for some afternoon during s hmv week, when mam- of our leading colonial statesmen will' be present, and when they will also have an opportunity to learn that South Taranafei has a history. If the exact date cannot be arranged for. then let unveiling be as near as possible the anniversary, of furuturu.

VETERAN