WAR MEMORIAL FOR STOKE.

Colonist, Volume LXII, Issue 15243, 3 December 1919, Page 4

WAR MEMORIAL FOR STOKE.

SCHEME ADOPTED,

A meeting of residents of Stoko to finally consider wJiat form tlie war memorial should take was hold on Monday night. There was an attendance of 43, fairly representative of the district. Mr A. P. Allport, who was elected chairman, explained the purpose of the meeting, and stated that the committee appointed at the previous public meeting to obtain estimates of cost of proposed schemes had obtained all the necessary information,' and he would call upon Mr A. Gilbert to explain the scheme in detail.

Mr Gilbert stated that the scheme the investigation committee Had considered most appropriate was as follows :—

(1) A memorial arch of reinforced concrete, with marble tablets for inscription purposes, at the entrance to the llecreation Grounds, on the main road between the Hall and the Turf Hotel, tlie present fence to be replaced by a more artistic one. (2) Beautifying the grounds to the east of the tennis court with ornamental shrubs, etc. (3) -In annexe on the north-east side of the Hall, to consist of six pillars of reinforced concrete. Mr Gilbert explained that tho committee had gone into the proposed scheme very thoroughly, and Mr W. Houlker had promised to complete designs and to supervise the work of construction free of charge. Mr W. C. Hyde had promised the same assistance in the laying out of the grounds. TTiese announcements were received v/'th applause. Plans and elevations prepared "by Mr Houlker were handed round. . •Vfter a motion that the scneme be accepted in its entirety had been passed, an open discussion took ptoce. Matters relating to the cost of upkeep of the crounds were freely discussed, as it would bo necessary for these grounds to be kept m good order for all time. The Foresters had appointed a committee to "<*o into tiio matter of raising amemorial, but were asked to join with tho public. This they agreed to do, and at the meeting' their committee asked that one of the tablets on the arch be assigned to them for inscription purposes. The majority of the Foresters did not favour the idea of separating the names of the members from those of others with whom they haa iought side by side. After a rather heated discussion it was decided that one or the inner tablets be devoted to the use of tlie Foresters if they desire it. Tho whole scheme will cost, roughly, £GOO, and it was decided to canvass the district to raise tins amount. Tho Memorial Committee, with the addition of Messrs P. Clung and K. Harrison, were appointed to organise tho canvassing.