THOMAS CAWTHRON.

Colonist, Volume LVIII, Issue 14539, 17 October 1917, Page 2 (Supplement)

THOMAS CAWTHRON.

MEMORLkL MONUMENT UNVEILED

(From "The Colonist," Oct. 9th.). ■ The monument erected by tho Cawthron Trusted over the grave of. th» late Mr Thomas Ctfwlhron in the Wakaouaka Cemetery, was unveiled yesterday afternoon, the uixy being the second anniversary of Mr Uawthron's death. The ooremony was performed by His Lordship Bisliop Sadlier, chairman of tho Board of Trustees, other members of which,.viz., Messrs C. J. Jrlarley, H Everett, H. ft. Duncan, and W: Jlout, were also present. , The City Council was represented, by the Mayor (Mr W. W. Snodgrass), Councillors F. GibbonsH. Baigent, T.: Pettit, J.■ W. Marris W. Y.-JR-out, and the s Town.Clerk (Mr; G. A. Edmonds). Richmond was represented by.the Mayoi-(Mr \Y. E. Wilkes) and Councillors Ingram, Hart, and Win. Messrs T. .iNcale (chairman) and S. Blomfield (secretary) were present on behalf of the Hospital Board; Messrs F. W,. 0. Smith and F. W. Hamilton represented the- Governors of iNelson College, and Mr H. M. Field the Harbour Board. ■ Among others present were Messrs H. Ba"igent (ex-chamnan of the Hospital Board), C. Y. Fell, and John-Graham.

Prior to the- unveiling ceremony special prayer-; were i-coited by Bishop Sadlier, -who also read a passage -from the Book of Proverbs. .*■"

In the course of a short address, Bishop Sadlier said they were gathered that day, the second anniversary of- the death, of Mr Cawthron, to linveiL a monument which iir.tl been erected to bo a memorial fay the people of the c% of the great, bone-tits which he conferred upon them ail.. Some of them had many memoi^e* of Mr Cawthron,. but they would a!i agree in the fact that os a citizen he lived a life of integrity and uprightness. It was true that he livod very daringly, ? )U t they saw now.,that he dk; so because he believed thatranythino; he possessed, was held in trust for the benoiit of others. His simple life was an example to them all. Be sought none of the .comforts of our modern life. He was one who, was always carefrij in- small things, bui; he was no niggard. Little country libraries and churches ov^ed a great debt to Mr Cawthron lor his encouragement and generosity. Several instances hadcome under his o-»vn notice iri which Mr Cawthron" had given great help to

country. people in assisting them to. provide for their recreation and worship. His constant-thought was for the well-being and comfort of his fellow- 1 .¥ e??> aDcl ifc £ BVO ilim Sreat 3°y to nnd his-benefactions so much appreciated. He loved our nation and our beautiful city, and his desire to help j this place often led him into ■ transactions which.caused him loss and anxi- 1 ety. His management of his affairs, was by no means confined to the making of money, but-he strove to assist public works of importance. It was his intention to bestow upon the people a great man y j mpor taiit special gifts. He had promised, for instance, to place over the river in Tra'fa'irar street a bridge m keeping with the Church. Steps. It was a matter ot great regret to the trustees that that work could not be accomplished. Mr Cawthron was also contemplating the construction of a road round Britannia Heights, and he had also intended to present to the country' a solar nhysics. observatory. These benefactions were also prevented-by Mr Cawthron'-s death from reaching -fulfilment. As they knew, a site had been purchased for the observatory on. thfi Port Hills, and' that property the trustees had decided! to hold in trust for the public until sudd

time as it eoukt be put to some suitable use. Perhaps another citizen would some day bestow upon the city an institution worthy ?:i' the site Air Caw^ thron had provided the means for carrying out a rnuch-sceiiod improvement on the Rocks road by the extension of the i>or>ts and chains along a^i unprotected and dangerous portion of the breastwork, his attention having been drawn to Lhe ceeofsity for this work oy an accident v/hif-h had • occurred there. To Mr C&v/thron they owed th< fine organ in the ik-hool of Jiu«ic, ant the great benei'sA.-t-ion whiph rendera possible the erection of a new Hospital, Jie'provided aha tho Church Steps to which he had airutted. The steps had become the meeting-place of the citizens for such patriotic and reli'uoal gatherings as they had witnessed 4 frequently during the past three years] One of his last gilts, to the public wal Cawthron Park. Ho came last to tbl

greatest benefaction, the Cawthron iriJl stitute. The progress of the Institute must necessarily be slow. The winding up the estate was not yet comn]eted9 and the present world conflict made il difficult to secure a director iitted t9 assume control of so great a work. !« was advisable to wait" patiently to s|9 cure the best possible man. They ha.M no doubt as to the ultimate results <ffl Mr Cawthron's gift. c The position ifl origina! research in New Zealand to-daM was sufficient explanation of ihe truM state of affairs. Research was one <fl !the things Avhick we neglected. lifl j was not an advertisable things and ifl i did noL appeal to the public lma^mtS ition. But it was one of the most" iraS Iportant and necessary things to wh'cK our national attention could be directd? at the present time. Tho Institute (would take a great place in the educs*! jtiori of our citizens, and the scholar-' [ships attached to it would be the most; j valuable in New Zealand. In saying i that- they were thankful for Mr Cawri jthroiVß benefactions, and thankful for? his life and example, he was expressing what was m tho raiiida of all of them/

JJisiiop Jsadlic? then unveiled thf! monument, which lie said would ahvayi serve as a reminder to their, .of.the lite and belief actions "of 1 heir late felloffjC>tii>::a. Ln closing iiis address Bisfaoj) ; Sftdhor expressed the satisfaction of M li-iistees —sv\th the manner in which Air (.»-. M. Simpson h;v! carried but the commission entrusted to him. Tie ; monument was a handsome work, and ; reflected Mr Silicon's skill in his craft. . i \ The monument, which was designed by Mr Simpson is of Ua'rcourt grey -grnic;ite, polished, is 18ft high, a slender win inn rising to s height, of over ISit from a graduated triple base. It in o striking monument; though of simple design. The inscription on the lVo:>t face of the bas? 1 reads•— : "Erected to the memory of Thomas Oawthron, born 26th May, 1833; died ;Bth O'.-tohev, 1Q1Z; who, having provi* ;ed for the sick and needy, devoted tli? gieater portion cf his fortune to the erection and maintenance of the Caff-, thron Institute, an/I.thus bequeathed $ his fellow-citizens ;■» signal example p| public .spirit and liberality. :? "Tho liberal ir-an devfeeth liberal,

ithmrrs, and by liberal things shall ifl '.citand.—isa. Xax?]. 8." IM On ihe side panels of the base appesM mscrintions i-e^ardmg members of AfrH Cawthron's f.T.niiv as follows :—!"!■ memory of 3;w.u>y, 'Cawthron . born mM March. 1S02; died 18th llarch, ISSW Alary CawUiron. horn loth MarclijM 5514; died liih Iviarcii. 186? -^iM Jamof! Daniel Cnivihron boi-n l4tJ« An-^st, 1823: diod 9th Febmai'v, 185« \Nilban! Oawthrf;«, horn 3rd" JuneJM V&l ; died oil; February, 1875. ■