WAR MEMORIAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27386, 11 May 1950, Page 3

WAR MEMORIAL

Marble Slab Comes Away

MORTAR CRUMBLING A report that he had drawn the attention of the Oamaru Borough Council to a marble slab which had come away on the Great War Memorial in Thames street was made by the secretary, Mr A. C. Piper, at the monthly meeting of the Oamaru RSA on Tuesday night. He had also asked that a survey be carried out of the monument. and had suggested that the bronze figure should be cleaned. The Daily Times inspected the monument yesterday morning and found that in several places the mortar was crumbling away. The marble slab, which fell away on April 26, was at a bottom corner of the obelisk. Higher up the monument it appeared that the mortar had crumbled, and what appearec. to be small cracks could be seen between the slabs. The bronze statue is also badly tarnished, and in great need of cleaning. On other paits of the monument there is a noticeable brown discoloration. It is understood that this has been brought about by the use in the mortar of river sand, which contained a certain amount of iron. ■* It is doubtful if this discoloration can be removed as it is feared that it may have worked right through the marble. Oamaru is fortunate in having such a monument in its main thoroughfare, and every endeavour should be made to keep it in first-class order.