OLD SOLDIERS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIII, Issue 26, 28 May 1912, Page 6

OLD SOLDIERS.

MEMORIALS AT NORMANBY. A Tokaora correspondent, who ha.: played an important part in tin movement which terminates to-morrow in the unveiling of the memorials at Normanby to our fallen soldiers, writes interestinglj of the modus operandi employed by the Normanbj Town Board in accomplishing their desirs. "On the Bth .May, 1911, by request and authority of the Normanby Tour, Hoard, as Cemetery Commissioner in control of the Waihi Military Come tery, I waited on the Acting-Ministei of Defence, Wellington, to ascertain what could be done towards erecting ; suitable cairn, and enclosing the remains of our fallen soldiers with a substantial concrete wall and iron railings. We were promised £1 for £] up to £SO. With commendable promp titudo, the chairman and commission crs of the Normanby Town Board got out subscription lists. The result* were very encouraging, and in du; time an application was made to tk Department, inquiring if the Board had to forward the money to headquarters, or were they (the Board; to do the work. After considerable delay a reply was received asking th. Board when it would be convenient tor that body to receive an officiaJ tc inspect and pass the work.

This brought the time to September. Again the Board wrote asking for definite information on the matter. A reply reached the chairman on the eve of the A. and P. Hawera Cattle Show, stating that plans, specifications, and estimated cost would have to be submitted to the Chief Commissioner of Crown Lands at .New Plymouth. If be were satisfied, tin Board could proceed and do the work. When complete, the Department had to be notified, an officer would be sent up, and the promised subsidy would be paid on his certificate. This was the first real data tiie Beard had to go on. "At the Hawera A. and P. Show, the chairman of the Normanby Town Board, with the writer, waited on the Minister of Agriculture, lie; referred us to our member. The general elections wqw. coming on. Mr Penrce and .Mr O'Dea and also Sir .Joseph, Ward spoke favourably and encouragingly. The Town Board held many meetings at which the writer was present, by invitation. A competent firm war; selected to prepare plans and estimates. At this stage the Beard was in a quandary. Mr Thos. Robson, a well-known Normanby resident, ottered a donation of £2O, if a memorial cairn were erected in Victoria Park, in view of all who pass by rail. To this neither the Town Board nor myself could agree, as the subsidy was obtained far a cairn over the obi soldiers' graves in the Waihi Military Cemetery. lint Mr Robson would not give his contribution for tho Waihi site. Another local resident, hearing of our difficulty, offered to guarantee and trust the public to recoup him, and apply for two monuments —one in the cemetery over the graves and one in Victoria Park. "There is yet a fair sized shortage in funds, but later on I hope to be able to publish a complete list of the contributors, so that we will have a record of those who so freely gave, and also give a chance to many to supplement their former limited contributions. Mr .1. (I. Beamish has very kindly forwarded me his cheque for'£2 12s. This brings the total of Paten cheques for this fund to £lO 3s Gil, so the reader can see subscriptions are not confined to Normanby. "The unveiling will take more tin form of a national affair than a local one."