A STATUE OF THE QUEEN.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1510, 7 February 1901, Page 61

A STATUE OF THE QUEEN.

( ir N.Z. Times,” January 30.)

Yesterday Lis Excellency Lord Ranfuriy made a suggestion to his Worship the Mayor cf Wellington, which should only require to be known to be promptly carried out. It is that energetic steps should be taken at once for the erection of a suitable memorial statue of the great Queen whose reign closed the other day. Similar movements are on

foot all over the British dominions, a* the cable is already beginning to inform us. New Zealand must not be behind any part of the Empire in this manifestation of loyalty. Moreover, the capital cf the colony, unlike, at least, one other city within its borders — .Auckland, to wit —is without a statue of her whose memory is at present receiving feeling tributes from every Court and every newspaper of the civilised world. For these reasons the suggestion of Lord Ranfuriy must be taken up without delay, Thai it will be >t>, the meeting called for this afternoon by the Mayor, who has promptly accepted the suggestion is, we feel sure, a guarantee. Little, in fact, remains to be done except to find the money, and that important work has been inaugurated by the Governor with a handsome subscription. If any further spur were required, it -would be found in the history of several attempts made here to raise memorials to our illustrious dead. These attempts all failed of the com- ' plete success hoped for, because they were postponed until the feelings which incited them had cooled. The strength cf the feeling upon the present melancholy occasion is of course, beyond the reach of comparison with anything of the kind that has gone before. But that is one reason the more for pressing the matter forward without a moment’s cl* lay. At the outset the public is indebted to the Governor for another suggestion. Having taken the initiative—and what could; better befit his high position?—and having headed the subscription list, his Excellency has also given the practical advice that the moneys intended for the floral tributes ho general on these occasions may be in part at least diverted to the more enduring memorial which the citizens are to consider this afternoon. In the same spirit we may be permitted to carry thi3 suggestion further; to its logical conclusion, in fact. There will be funeral services in all the churches of the city on. Saturday, whereby their congregations will be in touch with their fel-low-citizens of the Empire on that supremo day of mourning. Why not institute offertories in each church and devote them to the great Queen’s memorial ? By organising this work today’s meeting of citizens will provide • machinery for immediately collecting a general subscription large enough 1 o erect a memorial worthy of the city and adequately expressive of its feeling of undying respect and abiding reverence. The loyal and patriotic people of Wellington may be trusted to take up this matter in a manner worthy of thenselves and of the city which claims the name of Empire.

On the eve of his departure with the Sixth Contingent for South Africa, Trooper W. J. Horne was pr 3 sen ted by bis fellow-officials of the Wellington railway staff with a purse of sovereigns.