Untitled

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18510, 22 March 1922, Page 6

THE CARGILL MONUMENT. TO THE EDITOR. Sib, —At * meeting of the executive of the Town Planning Society, the proposal to shift the Cargill's Monument was discussed, and I was requested to write to the preee, setting forth the ideas of our society on the subject. I would first point out that some while ago the Tramways Committee of the (Sty Council proposed removing the monument in order to make room for a public convenience and tramway waiting shelter. The proposal, however, was. fortunately knocked on the heed, greatly owing to the stand taken by our society, -which eet forth very strong reasons against carrying it into effect. We were much surprised that your recent leader on the subject should favour the proposal to remove this monument, and can only suppose that it was written without a clear knowledge of the pros and cons of the matter. The arguments eet forth by the deputation to the council can, I think, be shown to be quite unsound. The chief reason given—viz., that the structure in its present place is on obstruction to traffic, is dearly wrong, as any one who has travelled in the large cities of Europe, America, and Australia, knows that large open spaces at intersections are a source of constant danger to pedestrians. The traffic must be kept to certain definite routes, and not permitted to take short cuts as it pleases, and the only way to ensure this ia by forming “islands" in one way or another. Cargill’s Monument exactly serves this purpose; it is placed in the centre of the three routes, and divides them perfectly, being neither too large nor so small as to be insignificant. A great deal was made as to its being made a receptacle for rubbish, etc., and alao as tc its neglected appearance and condition. The answer to that is only too plain, and that is that our City Council has not done its duty in looking after it properly. It should not be too much to expect the authorities to replace the finial at the top, which fell ofl some years ago, remove the broken, and unnecessary iron lamp standards, clean out the rubbish, and turn the water on again. Nothing else is needed, and this would cost' comparatively little. Again, there is no real objection to its being made use of by “Weary Willies” or anybody else, provided no damage is done. It serves a useful purpose that way, and if there were no auch facilities there, they would have to be found elsewhere. Leaving the utilitarian side of the questionooming to the amenities of the case: Here we have a beautiful piece of architecture, one of the finest pieces cf Gothic architecture in the dominion, placed in the most prominent position in the city, where it in seen and admired by hundreds of thousands of people. It forme just the vista coming up ox down Rattray or High street that is needed, and from its shape, it appears to equal advantage from all sides, and all pointn, of view. 0 It forms a link with Edinburgh, being based in design on the famous Soott Monument here, and all the associations with tha past history of Dunedin make it undesirable to remove it to a place where possibly U3I charms would be unseen and lost sight Ot We trust, Sir, that the few reasons given i* this letter, will show you, the Early Settlers’ Association, and the general public the wisdom of leaving the Cargill Monument in ' its present ideal position, but if your influence could be brought to bear in the dirco. tion of the renovations suggested, we should feel extremely gratified.—l am, etc., Hash. Hoofer, Hon. Secretary, Town Planning Society. Dunedin, March 21.