TOKOMARU'S MEMORIAL

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17450, 23 April 1931, Page 8

TOKOMARU'S MEMORIAL

HANDSOME MONUMENT UNVEILING- ON SATURDAY I'AKEIIA AND MAORI CO-OPERATE One of the most interesting and impressive monuments in this district to the memory of the war dead is that which was recently completed at Tokomaru Bay in readiness for its formal unveiling on Anzac Day. The monument is situated on a section near the school buildings, at a point where practically every traveller by the main highway must see it. and preparations are being taken in hand for beautifying the site and maintaining it in a condition bfffittinu its main feature. The election of the memorial at this late date. 14 years after the close of the Great War, may be taken as an indication that the sacrifices of the Tokomaru Bay men who lost their lives on overseas .service are not being overlooked or forgotten. Some portion of the funds for the memorial were raised in the years immediately following the war. and the balance of the amount required to erect a monument which would be a credit to the coastal centre has been secured as the result of a drive maintained throughout the past year or two, in the face of many difficulties arising from the depression. The total cost of the work, including levelling the site and preparing the foundations for the stone, has been about £160; this being exclusive of the value of * lie land, which it is understood was donated for the purpose of a memorial by the native residents of Tokomaru Hay. The ( memorial represents the result of a co-operative, effort among the Maoris and pakebas alike, and as it stands to-dav reflects credit upon the public recognition of < del>t to the fallen. '' , THE HONORED DEAD The central feature of the monument is a. broad and beautiful tablet, of Italian marble, on which is engraved the. following inscription : "1914-18 —The Great War—Erected in honor of the men of Tokomaru Ray who gave their'' lives." Then follows the list'of the honored dead from the Township, comprising William Adams, Edward Brown, Samuel Carlyon, Henry Diamond. William Ettles, Goafrey A. Fairlie, Raniera Grant, John Oreen. William Grieg, Reginald Hooper, Leonard .Tory, Whetuki Kopua. Henry Mnihias,' Roy Perry. Stanley Popple, Leonard Spurdon, James Steel, Hori Tangaere, Walter Thompson, George Tobin, and Arthur Ward. This tahlet is set in a heavily reinforced concrete structure, having a base 7ft. 3in. by 4ft., tapering to 3ft. 6in. by 2ft. :9in., finished in fine white cement, and carrying; an ornamental 'cap of simple desigii ;md highly pleasing proportions. Additional features of (he monument are buttresses on either side which add to the improssiori of solidity and permanence.

Throughout the erection of the monument, the 'best of materials has been \ised, the concrete pillar being constructed from the hard crushed metal from Te Puia which is rcognised as being .much superior 1o river gravel for such work. Messrs. Kane and Griffon, of Gisbcirne, were the contractors, and have received the compliments of the War Memorial Committee upon their completion of the work. ;