MEMORIAL SCHEME

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 14 April 1939, Page 4

MEMORIAL SCHEME

REDESIGNING AND BEAUTIFYING CHURCH HILL

NEW ZEALAND’S CENTENNIAL NEXT YEAR GENERAL SCHEME APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL The redesigning and beautifying of Church Hill has been adopted by the Nelson Provincial Centennial Council as the memorial to mark the centenary of New Zealand in 1941. The Nelson City Council received advice to that effect at last night's meeting and approved of such e scheme being carried out on Council property.

The Mayor <Mr G. L. Page) said that the Centennial Council had decided on a scheme of improvements to Church Hill for the New Zealand Centennial Memorial. The scheme at present intended included the redesigning of the northern part of the hill by the erection of walls and gently sloping terraces, and the elimination of some of the paths. At the to*> of the steps, 30 feet been would be walls round the base of the first terrace below the Cathedral, with a central water fountain and gardens. The scheme also provided for a permanent dias 18 feet wide by 16 feet on the front part of the steps, the dias to be faced with the marble which would be taken out of the steps. He submitted to the Council a series of plans which gave a general idea of the intended scheme.

Council! H. G. B. Hurst said that thu general idea was very good though he would not say it was the best type of memorial. However he would not be satisfied to see the work carried out according to the present plans. He thought a garden architect should be asked to give advice on the matter. The scheme offered great possibilities I for a most attractive work and the best possible lay out should be secured.

I Councillor J. A. Harley moved that the Council approve of the suggested memorial on the Church Hill site.

Councillor E. R. Neale said he would not agree to a scheme which would entail the wholesale cutting down of the present trees and growth which contributed so greatly to the beauty of Church Hill, and simply make it another area of garden and lawns.

In answer to Councillor S. W. Street who asked if the Council was being asked to give its Anal approval of the scheme, which would definitely fix the matter of a memorial the Mayor said the Provincial Council was asking the Council to approve of it as the memorial, as it would be on Council property. The Council had been asked to act as a committee, with power to add, to go further into the matter and make any suggestions. The 1940 memorial had nothing to do with Nelson’s Centennial in 1942. The money for tha scheme had to be available by September and there were not many months left to get the work done in time for the New Zealand celebrations next year. The Council could secure alternative plans if it desired.

The motion was seconded and carried.

The Mayor. Councillors Hurst and Harl°y were appointed a committee to report on the proposal.