THE "COLONEL PITT MEMORIAL."

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVII, Issue XLVII, 22 April 1912, Page 6

THE "COLONEL PITT MEMORIAL."

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —It will have been noted by your readers that no decision was arrived at by the Committee at the last meeting as to the form the memorial should take, there "being several "new" ideas in connection therewith.

To thoae who have not only subscribed to the fund for a statue of Colonel Pitt, but have studied the question from its initiation when an appeal to the public for funds for a statue was made, through the generosity of both local papers, gratuitously, for about a year—it can but seems just and fair to the subscribers ci by far the greatest part of the fund — namely those outside Nelson and province, that no change of form of the memorial should be made, that is no change from a statue, now that the £SOO is subscribed necessary to procure a statue from a noted sculptor—the Government sculptor in New Zealand (Wei. lington)—where his studio is, and whose other works are well-known —notably that of the late Mr Seddon, and Maori chiefs—one of the latter costing £BOO. I refer, of course, to Mr Nelson lUingworth. who has agreed to produce a statue of Colonel Pitt, whom he had th? additional advantage of having known i ; i life. The model for the statue wll be taken from the chotcgrapn in the orderly- room in Harley-street a copy < f which I am putting in Mr Frank Harford's window in Trafalgar-street —aloi);.'

with Ihte marble btisfc of the ldte Air Seddon. also produced by the same sculptor. This will disperse any idea on the part of anyone of any chance of an inferior statue being produced.. Furthermore, as frnni 2& to 3Q subscribers have signed a petition iH NelsoJl alone to have tile original i>dea of A statue Carried out, in order to further bring home to the minds of the Committee that, a majority of subscribers favour the carrying out of the Statue with no inortj delay, I shall be happy to "revive a shOit note from any subscriber with pigiiatuie attached, stating that lie ot she approves of the statue, a§ the best tir oitly, torm appropriate Inkier the dirciimstances. I theil haml them in all together to Secretary or Committee, as a protest to further delay, or vague and inappropiiate suggestions for change or deviation from the form of memorial for which money was asked all over the Dominion. To enable this to the done the letters and signature should be posted during next week, beore the final meeting is held. It ;s generally understood that the local Committee was appointed to secure the production of a statue so soon as funds permitted. or at least to act in accordance v-'th t'.-e majority of subscribers, so that if any change is contemplated it should not be undertaken without first giving a.ll subscribers an opportunity of registering their votes, which a mere i announcement in any or both local " pa- } pers does not do, for the simple reason that the bulk of the money has been subscribed from other parts of th<> Dominion. To ignore this fact for any reason j whatever, does an injustice to outside ' subscribers, and creates distrust and prejudice against any future appeal for funds for any other memorial, as subscribers will not know what they are giving for.

I am, etc., COLIN CAMPBELL Nelson, 19th April 1912.