MARLBOROUGH'S WAR MEMORIAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 7 February 1928, Page 5

MARLBOROUGH'S WAR MEMORIAL

REPRESENTATIVE OF WHOLE PROVINCE A BRIEF DESCRIPTION Marlborough's War Memorial, which was unveiled on Saturday by MajorGeneral Sir Andrew Russell, takes the form of a handsome clock tower. It is constructed of stone brought specially from all parts of the province, the underlying idea being that every part of the district should be definitely and permanently represented. The total cost of the work was some £4550, including the handsome chiming clock and bells, which were the special gift of Mr and Mrs G. F. Watts, of Lansdowne, at a cost of £1350. The tower, which is 54 feet in height, forms a striking and graceful landmark, and has been greatly admired bv visitors from other parts of the Dominion, while it is Marlborough's pride and a most fitting tribute to her fallen sons. Within the lower storey, which is built of grey granite and boulders from the Awatere river bed, is a Memorial Chamber in which stands the monument proper—a grey Scotch granite plinth, hexagonal in shape, i supporting six bronze plates on which are inscribed the names of the 419 Marlburians who made the supreme sacrifice during the war. The plates are surmounted by a white marble cap and finial inscribed with the text: "Greater Love Hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." The ' graioite ground storey finishes in a band coarse of grey stone' from Benopai, above which the tower is continued in a rubble masonry of Benmore stone—a beautiful hard limestone which varies in colour from deepish purple, through shell pinik, to ivory white, and lends, an unusu.al warmth and beauty to the> whole structure. The cornice'groins are channelled blocks of Benopai or stone, while the clock dials, 34. feat above the street, are set in ring arcbes of freestone. There is also a freestone string coursewith double scrolls at each angle avnd a freestone cornice. The belfry is carried out in Benmore stone and is surmounted by a massive freestone dome hearing a bronze weather-vane finial in the fornr, of a flag with four piercings, representing the Southern Cross. Over the Seymour street entrance to tlie 'Memorial Chamber is a large white marble dedication panel, surmounted by a white cress ancF panel inscribed: "To the Glory of God and in Memory of tlie Men of' Marlborough, who gave their lives in the Great War. 1914-1918." The Marlborough Power Board made a cenerous contribution by providing for the internal lighting of'the clock dials and Hie perpetual flood lighting of the whole memorial—a factor which makes it rvory handsome edifice at night. The memorial was dedicated by tlie Ven. Archdeacon York and the loc.il clergv. after an impressive ceremony, in which the Returned Soldiers, thjO local Territorial companies, tho Cadets. Boy Scouts, and Girl Guides took a prominent part.