STATUE OF THE QUEEN.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1510, 7 February 1901, Page 56

STATUE OF THE QUEEN.

MEETING OF CITIZENS.

About thirty gentlemen interested in the proposed statue of the Queen assembled at the City Council Chambers oil 1 the 30th. HLs Worship the Mayor (convener), who presided, read the letter from the Governor, which was received with applause. His Excellency, he said, was unable, owing to the circumstances m which they were placed, to be present, but when the mourning was over he was prepared to act with the committee and give all the support he could to the project in haud. . . Mr Ward, on behalf of the Ministry, wrote stating that they hoped the Governor’s suggestion would meet with a hearty response, and asking the Mayor to place the Ministers on the subscription list for fifty guineas. Communications were also received from the following, all of whom promised their hearty support to the proposal:—Mr J. R. Blair; Mr Tolhurst, subscribing £2 2s;. Sargood, Son and Ewen, £26 55,; George and Kersley, £5 5s (in lieu of draping their premises); Mr Jacob Joseph, £25; Blundell Bros., £lO 10s; J Myers and Co. £2 2s; J, Barry, £5; Aitken and Wilson, £26 ss. The Mayor moved that all present form themselves into a committee, with the Governor as patron, and with power to add to their number, to give effect td the Governor’s expressed desire to efect a. statue of the Queen in the eifcy. 'Mr W. Nathan seconded the motnpn, which was carried unanimously. The suggestion of Mr Beauchamp that the movement should be made more national than parochial by enlisting the sympathies of people in the country was endorsed.

'The following Executive Committee was appointed, with power to set up small committees in the country districts:—His Worship the Mayor, Revs T, H. Sprott and H. Van Staveren, Messrs W. Booth, ■ A. R. Atkinson, M.H.R., A. GEE. Miles and John Duncan.

’On the motion of Mr Beauchamp, it Was decided that a letter be addressed to the Governor thanking him cordially for conceiving the idea of erecting a statue, and assuring him of the committee’s intention to do all .in its power to carry out the project. A subscription list was then opened, and donations amounting to £260 were received in the room.

At a subsequent meeting of the subcommittee the proposal was discussed, and it was thought that a statue of the material and workmanship could be procured for about £3OOO. It was decided to place subscription lists in all the banks 'and' newspaper offices, and to 1 make an appeal for funds. -The Mayor and two members of the sUfe-commillee afterwards waited on the Hon J. G. Ward to request him to communicate at once with the Agent-Gene-ral with a view to engaging a sculptor as early as possible to execute the statue.

The Acting-Premier promised his hearty support, to the movement, and stated that no Customs duty would be levied upon the statue. He also despatched the following cable last night to the Agent-General, whose own artistic taistes the members of the deputation were confident would guide him in •hi® choice:—“Citizens of Wellington subscribing for statue of the Queen; desire you will advise if £3OOO would procure the services of a first-class artist and supply a creditable statue, bronze preferred. Telegraph name of suitable artist and full suggestions. Arrange to despatch sketches and recommend height.” Tt was thought by the deputation that ten or twelve feet would be a.> suitable height.