FORGOTTEN PIONEERS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8480, 15 July 1913, Page 4

FORGOTTEN PIONEERS

COMMEMORATION OF THE WAKEFIELDS. ’ “I think it is a standing disgrace to the people of New Zealand that they do not do something in commemoration of the Wakefields.” Thus Mr J. H. Collier at the annual meeting of the Early Settlors’ Association last night. Proceeding, ho said: —‘‘Seventy-five years have passed away since Colonel William Wakefield arrived with the first ships and took possession of this port in 1839. A million of his country men and women are comfortably settled all over the country. Many have become wealthy and -many others have risen to high positions of honour, emolument, and even fame, in the Dominion and tho Empire. Many thousands have gone from these islands to swell the population and do good work in the Australian Commonwealth. Costly memorials have been raised from time to time in honour of much smaller figures, and titular distinctions have been scattered far and wide. But nothing whatever has been done towards a national recognition of the great and grand national services so freely rendered by these long-for-gotten men in securing South Australia and New Zealand for our race and nation. In recent years the names of prominent men in the Dominion and Commonwealth have been carved and traced ,on marble, bronze and .brass, and these tablets have been placed to remain for all time in the company oi the mighty dead at the seat of our Empire in Westminster Abbey and St. Paul’s Cathedral, where also the remains of the late Sir George Grey are laid to rest.” Mr Collier moved; “That the committee mako .all arrangements required for a representative deputation to -wait on the City Council and the Prime Minister to urge the co-operation of the Government, the Parliament, tile municipalities, press and people of New Zealand in organising a national recognition of the great national services freely rendered to our race and nations by the Wakefields in securing New Zealand for the Empire, of which we form an important part.” . The motion was carried.