MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE NIXON MEMORIAL FUND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 266, 19 September 1864, Page 6

MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE NIXON MEMORIAL FUND.

A. meeting of tho Committeo was called in the Chamber of Commcrco on Suturday nitcmoon, at two o'clock. The cliair was taken soon after that hour by Jlr. Martin * Tho members present were Messrs. Bassett, Creighton, Spencer, A. Buckland, and Itunciman. Mr. Hanoi), the Honorary Secretary, rend a letter signed '' Jifottrir pour hi paint', l ' which had been received since the last meeting of the Committee, accompanying some sketches, which the writer desired might be opened and submitted 1o the inspection of the Committee, with an intimation in pencil on it, that it was too lato for competition, Ho need scarcely say, as tho handwriting would be well known by all the members, that tho sketches were the production of Major Ueapliy. lliis was marked No. 1. Tho second sketch was a reduced copy of the "Wallace Monument, in course ot crection near Stirling, sent in by the designer ot tho suceei-sful plan, which had received their premium. No. o was an lonic column, with statuo on the top, marked Ij. No. -1, marked " Invincible," was a richly-ircttcd shrine of a scmi-gothic characti v, with pointed spire. No. o, marked 41 .1 i ero," a tinted column, surmounted by a richly ornamented urn. Some of the designs exhibited much taste, but having arrived after the competition was closed, ot course could not bo considered lor the pri/.0.

The Chairman announced that tho design to which the Committee had resolved to bestow tho premium was the work of Mr. Henderson, and it was now deeirablo to consider whether that should bo tho pl:in adopted for execution. Sir. Henderson was present to answer any questions that might bo put to him. Ho said he should have preferred to build tho monument of ono block, but he feared it could not bo easily obtained. His ealculalations were based on that supposition. Its height was to bo 40 feet, its diameter at base 3 —feet- Of course any alterations wished by tho Committee could bo introduced, even if they had a tendency to rcduce tho cost. Ho had not the slightest doubt that tenders could be easily got for the sum he had specified. He thought it would look as well in three large blocks as in one. If tho contractor were to go to Sydney himself, get the stono cut, and shipped himself, ho thought it should not talco longer than a month, lie thought the wholo should be completed beforo the autumn. Sydney freestone gets ha:dcr by exposure to the weather if well oiled. It might last for centuries. lie knew of some very good stone at tho Wade, but he thought it would bo hardly worth while to open a quarry for the small quantity they would require. He had put up a great many monuments, but not quite so high as this one. With regard to his copy of the Wallace monument, he should propose to erect it of dressed scoria stone lined with brick, dressed with ashlar, with a winding staiicasc of 101 steps, Go' feet high, with an out-look at. every revolution. Jt eould ho erected for about tho samo price as the obelisk, as all tho materials would bo got here, and would be light and easily handled. Mr. Creighton moved, and Mr. Shepperd seconded a resolution that the design that had gained the premium be adopted as tho plan for the monument, subject to such alterations as the committee and tho architect may consider advisable, with a view to economy or other considerations.

This was carried, and Mr. Henderson informed of the result.

In reply to a question, Mr. Henderson said that his calculations of £500 for tho total cost were based upon an exact knowledge of the cost of stone in Sydney, of freight, and of labour here. The only eircuinstanco that would interfere much with the price would bo the position, as to whether there was a practicable road or not. A position 200 feet above Parnell would make no ditlerence, provided there were a good road to it.

Mr. Creighton moved, "That an obelisk be adopted of tho samo height as in Mr. Hi ndeison's design, but with the huso altered in accoidance with that of Cleopatra's Needle." lie said that this change was desirable, if it were only oil the score of economy, not to speak of the architectural solecism of the proposed design, which had an Egyptian obelisk on a 1-ioinan case.

Mr. Ilarrop said he was pe< uliarly situated. He was (ailed upon to second Mi. Crcighton's motion, which he telt some inclination to do, as Vo had always considered the mixture of styles in tin: design objectionable ; but lie would rather not be the means of getting it altered in so thin a meeting, when a number of tho members might possibly entertain a different opinion.

On the proposition of tlio Chniiiimn tho meeting was adjourned until Patuidav next, tit 2 o'clock, when the question could ho brought under tho consideration of a larger number of persons.