THE CENTENNIAL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 68, 17 February 1939, Page 9

THE CENTENNIAL

MT, STEWART PLAN.

NOT WHOLLY ABANDONED

A meeting of tlie district zone committee in connection with the forthcoming Centennial celebrations was held in Feilding last evening, when the Mayor of Padding (Mr T. L. Seddon), representative of the committee on the Wellington Provincial Centennial Conned, submitted a report on the proceedings of the latter body. Mr Seddon presided, and also present were Messrs K. W. Dialrymple (Rangitikei County Council), F. Purnell (Mayor of Marton), D. W. Reid and A. K. Drew (Manawatu County Council), A. Campbell and R- L. Harding (Oroua County Council), G. B. Gregory and C. C. McDonald (Marton Borough Council), A. Milner and L. G. P. Mahoney . (Mangawcka Town Board). ■ In the course of his report Mr oeddon stated that at the meeting of the provincial council it was urged that the Mount Stewart Memorial be retained as a provincial memorial, but a resolution was carried that only one provincial memorial be erected in the province. He had dissented. “A subcommittee was set up to advise the provincial council on the type ol memorial which should be erected and the best method of financing the cost, he added. “Regarding the local Centennial memorials, owing to the decision of the council to erect a provincial memorial at Pctono Beach, I recommend that the proposed memorial on Mount Stewart be regarded as a district memorial for the Manawatu. this recommendation found favour and wins adopted. Approval was given to the following local Centennial memorials and the recommendations referred to the National Council : —Feilding Borough Council, pavilion at Kowliai Park, estimated to cost £1200; Marton Borough Council, a Centennial park at an estimated cost of £llOO. ‘ 'The estimated cost of the Petone scheme is £IO.OOO. Oil the basis of contribution decided ujxm this zono is required to find £207. The provincial committee asks each zone to undertake to find its quota, either by public subscription, by local body payments or a combination of both, and desires to have an assurance not later than the 22nd instant. “The following arc matters for consideration: Roll of early settlers firmation of the Marton Borough Council's proposals; any further proposals for local Centennial memorials; the Mt. Stewart Memorial (method of raising the amount required); local Centennial celebrations; formation'of local Centennial committees to take charge of arrangements, financial and otherW1 “It will be evident to you that funds will be required for the following purposes: —(a) Contribution to the provincial Centennial memorial; (b) contribution of the amount above the Government subsidy (if granted) for the Mt. Stewart' memorial; (c) local Centennial memorials; (d) local Centennial celebrations. Ways and means of raising the required moneys will have to be discussed and I respectfully suggest that in order to minimise the cost the district should co-operate in the celebrations, say, some function centring upon the unveiling of the Mt. Stewart memorial. I qlso suggest that the for-mat-ion of local Centennial committees should be undertaken at onoe.’ ABANDONED PROPOSAL.

The Mayor further reported on meetings he had attended, at . which the Centennial Council had decided to abandon the idea of three provincial memorials in favour of one at Petone. Mr Seddon had disapproved of the decision, but his voice was the only dissentient one. It had been agreed, however, that the _ Mount Stewart Memorial be a district memorial, llic council had made that agreement in November. Continuing, Mr Seddon advised the meeting ol the programme for the celebrations next year. the Government grant by way of subsidy for the celebrations amounted to £30,000. , „ Mr Purnell asked if the Feilding and Marton local memorials had been approved by the provincial committee. and Mr Seddon answered in the affirmative, but added that the approval of the National Council had not yet been given. Mr Seddon further stated that £3U,000 had been approved for the province, but nothing like that amount had yet been applied for. The Centennial Committee had urged local bodies to get their applications in. He did not think any more than the amount allocated would bo available. The chairman’s report was adopted. Discussing the question of the supplying of a list of earlv settlers, speakers referred to the difficulties of compiling the information. It was stated that in one district the early settlers arrived in 1840, wdiilo in other districts the settlement may not liavo taken place until 1890. . Tt was decided that the chairman he asked to obtain from the Provincial Centennial Committee, the definition of an earlv settler. The Marton Borough Council’s local memorial of a park was approved hv the meeting. Mr Mahoney said it was doubtful if the Mangawelcn Town Board would have any proposal to offer for a local memorial. THE MT. STEWART PLAN. Referring to the Mt. Stewart district memorial, Air Seddon said that the report concerning the meeting ot the Manawatu County Council which had appeared in the newspapers had been misleading. It had been stated at the meeting that the proposal had been abandoned, but that was not correct; the Mount Stewart Memorial was going to be a district one. The local bodies received as much information as he did on the Centennial matters, and he was at a loss to account for the impression gained that the Alt. Stewart proposal was not to be proceeded with. He thought it was generally known that it had been approved as a district memorial Tins memorial iva,s estimated to cost £3OOO, £750 of which would bo paid by the Government bv wav of subsidv. Air Purnell stated that Afar ton was prepared to find its quota, but the Rangitikei County, which extended from the const to Waimarjno. had refused to find its quota, while other local bodies had done likewise. The question arose: Should the Alt. Stewart memorial scheme be drop'ood or .a, more modest edifice erected? The Alanawatu Countv Council was the most interested nartv in the project. Air Drew said the proposition of the Mount Stewart Alemorial had not emanated from the Alanawatu County Council, hut from the Afoiint Stewart Pieneers’ Committee. Air Campbell said his council had been prepared to find its quota, but in view of the attitudes of other local bodies it appeared necessary to concentrate on a more modified scheme. Air Reid could not think of aim more fitting memorial site than the Alount Stewart one, and said he would like to see the memorial ereoted in its proposed form. Other local schemes had crept in and the scheme moved by the Snnrlon Old Pupils’ Association appeared to he waning. AIODTFTED SCHEATE PROPOSED. Air Seddon: The question is whether the zone can collect £2250 for the

memorial. Air Purnell considered that tlie matter should be referred back to the Mount Stewart Alemorial Committee for a 'modified plan. “I regretfully come to the conclusion that there is not a possible hope of raising £2250,” said Mr Seddon. A proposal costing £BOO, leaving £6OO to be provided, would, meet with more approval. Feilding would have to find £9O. while the Oroua County Council would find £7B.

Air Drew said that probably the Manawatu County Council would agree to the modified scheme. Air Dalrymple said that the Rangitikei County Council would probably be able to raise £l9O. He was disappointed that the sum, £BOO, was not more. It appeared to him that the whole idea of memorials had been rushed.

On the motion of Mr Campbell, seconded by Mr Purnell, it was decided that, owing to the impractibility of raising the £2250 involved, a modified scheme, costing not more than £BOO, replace the original £3OOO proposal, and that the matter be referred to the Mount Stewart Alemorial Committee; also that the local bodies interested he communicated with. . asking for their approval to the modified scheme within a month. Tho matter of local celebrations was left in tho hands of the local communities to arrange.