SITES FOR MEMORIALS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17794, 30 May 1921, Page 8

SITES FOR MEMORIALS.

NEW ZEALANDERS' ACTIONS.

HIGH COMMISSIONER'S WORK.

DESIGN FOR CHUNUK BAIR. [FROM OT7R OWN CORRESPONDENT.] JONDON, April 22. Mr. S. Hurst Seager, of 'Christchurch, whom the New Zealand Government has asked Jp prepare a plan for the proposed war memorial on Gallipoli, left to-day for the peninsula. When the Government expressed the desire that the memorial should be erected on Chunuk Bair, the High Commiasio.ner asked Colonel Hughes (who is in charge of the War Graves Commission on the peninsula) and Lieutenant A. W. Mildennall (a New Zealander with the commission) to report on the matter of the site. The question arose whether the memorial on the pinnacle of the hill would not clash with the cros3 of sacrifice which is to be erected in the cemetery situated a little below the crest of the hill. Sir James Allen and Sir John Burnet, the architect for the war graves of the East, thoroughly the matter, with the result that satisfactory arrangements were made to co-ordinate the construction and sites of the two stones so as not to spoil the artistic effect of either. Both Sir John Burnet and Mr. Seager were satisfied that this could,be done. Sir James considered it was necessary that the architect of the memorial stone should inspect the site and the surroundings, and suggested this to (the New Zealand Government. This arrangement was approved, a limitation being placed on the expenditure. As the result Mr. Seager will spend a week or so as the guest at the War Graves Commission, and thus be in a proper position to do justice to the work put into his hands. On his return from Gallipoli Mr. Seager is to meet the High Commissioner in Prance, when they will proceed to Le Quesney to made definite arrangements with the Mayor concerning the memorial there. From there they go to Messines. The original - site proposed there was found to be close to the Australian lines. Another site which the High Commissioner saw when, he was last on the ground, he thinks, he will be able to pro. cure. It is possible that he may visit Longueval os well to arrange certain matters with regard to the site already procured near that village. After prolonged correspondence and some heavy fighting," said Sir James, we have got from the Belgians a promise that we shall have the site we want at Gravenstafel. Arrangements are now being made to secure it" The High Commissioner will leave for France about May 13.

A cable message published on Thursday stated that Sir James Allen and Sir William Hemes had spent a week in France, and had made satisfactory arrangements regarding the sites for the three New Zealand war memorials.