THE Southland Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. SATURDAY, 31st JANUARY, 1903. THE MEMORIAL TO FALLEN SOLDIERS.

Southland Times, Issue 18059, 31 January 1903, Page 2

THE Southland Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. SATURDAY, 31st JANUARY, 1903. THE MEMORIAL TO FALLEN SOLDIERS.

It is matter for general satisfaction that the Southland memorial in connection with the South African war has been given definite form, and that the machinery of committees and oflicers necessary to the work of erecting it/has been set. Some considerable time has elapsed since it was resolved at an enthusiastic public meeting to erect a South African war memorial in Invercargill, but it must not be supposed that the movement has been retarded by apathy on the part of those charged with the work of pushing ifc on. So far from being apathetic the members of the Southland Memorial League are warmly sympathetic and enthusiastic, and if the spirit in which they have approached the matter can be communicated to the people of Invercargill and Southland the memorial will soon cease to be the object of effort and become the theme of common congratulations. The delay that has occurred in definitely shaping the proposal was not only unavoidable but we believe it was in some respects prudent. In so far as it was caused by the action of the committee ih obtaining the fullest particulars before finally deciding in favour of the memorial designed by Mr Newton Vane the delay was judicious, as no care, however laborious or protracted, could be con sidered superfluous which had for its object the prevention of error or blemish in a monument intended for all time. Nor can there be any difference of opinion as to the wisdom of allowing the holiday season, with its attractions and distractions, to pass over before asking the people to give their attention to this great matter. On the whole the League has been politic in avoiding action that might have been premature, and we do not apprehend tbat the memorial will suffer from the reasonable prudence and caution tbat have been manifested in bringing it before the public. There were two or three points in the bdsiness transacted at the meeting held on Tuesday night that offer opportunity for comment. In the first place the design of a young man employed in the office of a Dunedin firm of architects was finally selected f for the memorial. The selection was unanimous, aud it is safe to say that it will not be impugned, either by tho public or by the unsuccessful architects. The people of the district will presently have photographs of the monument put into their hands, and we venture to anticipate that the general verdict will be that Southland will have a memorial that is beautiful as architecture and noble as a tribute to the men who went out from Southland, met the last Adversary, and fell in defence of the Empire's cause. This is not the place for a technical description of the memorial, and perhaps a technical description would convey but a poor idea of it to the reader. It will be* sufficient if we say that the design is exceedingly chaste and graceful in its lines while in general appearance it is singularly appropriate to the purpose it has to serve — that of a monument to the dead. The memorial having been found, thab purpose, which is as high as any that can inspire a community, summons Southland to vigorous action. Some of our neighbours have already unveiled their memorials ; others are pressing towards the accomplishment of their aims ; and from this time onward there should be no flagging until Southland, whose men bore themselves in the heat and burden of the strife with the best, has raised a worthy trophy to those who gave to their country and their fellow men the greatest gift that men can give — their lives. In tbe second place it was decided that the monument should be simply a memorial to the Southland troopers who fell in South Africa or died of disease contracted while on active service. This decision also, we believe, will meet with general approval. When the memorial was first discussed there were not a few who held the opinion that Southland should erect a monument not only to those who Ml, but to all those who went from South-

land, to South Africa. Tbe broad idea was that the monument should be an imperishable historical object, com memorating the part taken by Southland in a crisis in the Empire's affairs as unique as it was tremendous. Exactly what prominence the South African war will 'ultimately hold in the history of the Empire cannot be foretold, but ib can be said that it will open an epoch, among those pregnant in the evolution of the nations destiny, the essential feature of which will be the quickening and growth of the " Imperial sentiment." It was a natural thing that some should desire to perpetuate Southland's share in the momentous events that marked the close of the nineteenth century and the opening of the twentieth on the marble tablets of this war memorial, and such a memorial would have been for ever an object for interest and veneration. But it was made plain thab bhe feeling of the community as a whole was pronouncedly in favour of making the monument a memorial to the dead. That is also a natural feeling, for, however deeply we may appreciate the services rendered by those who fought through the war and returned to their homes, among us, we cannot give them an equal place with those whose lot it was to seal their service with their heart's blood. These were called upon for the last sacrifice and they made it, and since they are dumb for ever it is for us to look to it that neither they nor their works are or shall be forgotten. Other means will no doubt be found of recording the notable facts of recent local history, if there is any danger of their being obliterated in the march of time, and the memorial will be devoted to those troopers frou Southland who died either from wounds or from disease when representing their district in the groat army of South Africa. We are convinced that the proposal, thus restricted in accordance with tho general wish, will have a better chance of success than it would have had had it embraced objects in regard to which the people of the district were not unanimous. The memorial will now be erected for a purpose to which all can subscribe with cordial approval, and when the appeal is made to the district the consideration given by the League to this question should bear fruit.

It only remains now for the various committees appointed to do their work quickly and well, to arouse widespread interest in the matter and take it at the tide. Properly managed the movement will succeed, and the memorial will stand not only as a monument to the Southlanders who laid down their lives in the South African war, bub bo the fact that at the time of the war Southland was deeply sensible of the inner meaning of what she was doing* in sending men to the front, and of the warmth and endurance of her regard for those who, aa it were, wore her colours and fell, leaving them untarnished.