Kaitaia’s Centennial Memorial Taking Shape

Northern Advocate, 27 April 1940, Page 4

Kaitaia’s Centennial Memorial Taking Shape

A meeting of the Mangonui County Centennial Committee was hold in the County Chambers. Kaitaia, on Wednesday. Mr C. J. Barriball presided. The secretary reported that the plans for the Kaitaia Rest Room had been received back from Wellington after having been approved by the National Council. A letter was received in which favourable comment was made on the plans. Financial Statement A financial statement presented by Mr C. McKinnon, the. secretary, showed the following figures: Receipts.—Donations. £439 18/2; library account, £172 2/6; total. £712 0/8. Payments—Wages, £175: materials, £3Bl 0/3; total, £556 10/3; bank balance, £155 11/5.. Estimated additional funds: Library mortgage, £300; Government subsidy, £500; donations, Worth and Webber. £SO; Grinter Bros., £39; Lane Bros.. £37; Frank Lewis. Ltd., £5 5/; Foley Bros., £4 57-; total, £935 10/-. Estimated expenditure, £2200; estimated receipts: Collected, £712 0/8; outstanding, £935 57; total, £1647 5/8: amount still to be raised, £552 14/-.

The chairman said Peria had done nothing so far, but a sports carnival was to be held on May 25, the proceedsof which would go to the Rest Room. Mr Peace said that since the last meeting a mortgage had been disposed of for £3OO in the interests of the library. In addition, there was. lie understood, a sum to come from the racing club. A booklet was being distributed by the Businessmen's Association, and the proceeds would also go towards the new building. The business people had been very generous, and more was to come from that quarter. One question that arose was whether there was to be a foundation stono for the building and, if so. what the inscription should be. Tribute to Missionaries Mr Stewart reported that the booklet the Businessmen's Association was getting out in aid of the Centennial memorial, was well in hand, and ho estimated a profit of £25. He was not in a position yet to report on the result Waipapakauri races. Mr McKinnon said they were within a few weeks of the opening of tin building and he would like to suggest that there be some design on the windows representative of the advent oi the missionaries to Kaitaia. The building was to be a memorial to the pioneers, and he would suggest that a small committee be set up to go into this matter. Mr Hoskin said they would have to be guided by finance, but some scheme should be adopted which would do honour to the missionaries. He moved that the matter be left in the hands of a committee consisting of Messrs Barribali, Peace, Archibald, T. S. Houston and C. McKinnon. Ground for Congratulation

i Mr Archibald said they could congratulate themselves on the present satisfactory state of affairs. The Rest Room Committee had thought it advisable to fix the total cost of the building at £2200. and apply for a subsidy on that. The plans were a credit to Mr Webber. It had been necessary to keep the floor of the biulding well above flood level, and several improvements on what was provided for in the plans had been decided upon. Some of -these were with a view to better lighting, .and others with a view to greater convenience. There was to be a panel above the entrance doors with .a sign indicating the purpose of the building. Some suitable design conveying what Mr McKinnon had in mind could bo shown on the windows. In Memoriam Mr McKinnon suggested that there should be a presentation in the design of the Rev. Joseph Matthews, accompanied by a Maori, as he came over the hill overlooking Kaitaia. Mr L. J. Matthews said that ,if the work of the missionaries was to be recognised in the way suggested, he would be pleased to donate £5 5 towards the cost. The motion was made to include consideration of Mr McKinnon’s suggestion, and, after being seconded by Mr Webber, it was carried, On the motion of Mr Stewart, it was left with the same committee to go into the question of the electric lighting of the building. The meeting was adjourned till the sub-committee was in a position to report back. . .