DISTRICT’S PIONEERS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 182, 3 July 1936, Page 14

DISTRICT’S PIONEERS

MX. STEWART MEMORIAL. (From Our Own Correspondent.) SANSON, July 2. A meeting was held at Sanson on Wednesday of tlic committee sp't up by the Manawatu County Council to meet representatives of the Sanson Old Boys’ Assertion in connection with the suggested memorial on Mt. Stewart to ilic memory o£ the pioneers cf the Manawatu. Members of the committee present were: Messrs J. 11. Perrctt (chairman), W. L. Pearce, D. W. Reid, A. K Drew (county clerk) and H. V. Bond (county engineer). The Old Boys’ Association were represented by Messrs J. C. Dagan, 11. J. Fagan, C. K J. Eglinton, K. M. Rcaroo and O. C. Ellenn. An apology for absence was received from Mr W. J. Crouchor. . Mr K. M. Pearce, in opening the discussion, stated that tlie Old Boys’ Association had desired to meet the council s committee to ascertain what the committee's suggested scheme was, and how tlie organising work would be carried out. The chairman explained that the County Council had set up a committee and had inspected tho site, and they had decided to fence off tlie hill, plough the land and lav it down ill grass. In four yeais time the centenary celebrations of New Zealand would tic hold, and in Ins opinion no more fitting effort could be made in this district to celebrate the event than by tho erection of a memorial to the early settlers of tlic Manawatu. When the preparation of the site had been completed it would be necessary to call a pubic meeting, representative of the whole of the Manawatu, to rccoive and deal with suggestions and appiont. a committee to carry on the work. “I am looking forward to tho day when some worthy memorial to the pioneers of this wonderful district of Manawatu will lie erected,” said Mr Perrctt, “and to achieve this undertaking will be no smalt task, because there are many matters to be considered in connection with tho scheme. These matters will be considered when Hie public meeting is hold. 1 want to point out. that this scheme is not a parochial matter, hut in m.y opinion a semi-national one,” stated tlie speaker. “The committee set up by the County Council is. appointed only to carry out preliminary work.” Mr J. C. Fagan, president of the Old Boys’ Association, said that his association realised what a large undertaking the scheme was. but assured the committee that, the old boys' were behind tlie proposal and were prepared to assist in every possible way. Mr 11. -J. Fagan considered that the pro postil would cover a very wide territory, and said that it must ho remembered that it was the central point for tlie Manawatu plains. It would tie necessary to obtain support from the people of tiie whole of the district, and lie felt sure that settlers who had left the Manawatu would be into! csted in thq proposal and would support it.” Tlie view as far a.s the Old Boys’ Asm ciationw as concerned was that tlie proposal should receive much forethought, said Air O. C. Ellenn. Mr Perrctt remarked that the committee were pleased to have rnet the Old Boys’ Association and find that tlie committee had the hearty co-operation of that fine association in the furthering of tho project. Mr Eglinton agreed with the suggestion to have the memorial completed at the time of the centenary celebrations.

Speaking on behalf of the deputation, Mr J. C. Fagan thanked the committee for granting the association tlie opportunity of discussing tho matter.