A MAGNIFICENT GIFT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 192, 27 August 1900, Page 2

A MAGNIFICENT GIFT.

A NOBLE EXAMPLE. It is generally admitted that Wanganui is a very attractive town. Jor this, besides its charming situation, it is greatly indebted to the generosity of its citizens who have enriched it by their personal labours or by gifts and bequests. The latest instance of this is the gift by a lady, Miss A. J. Burnett, of a peal of bells. The Wanganui Chronicle reports a meeting having been held to consider the question of selecting a site and other details and j some idea of the magnificence of the 1 gift may be gathered from the remarks of Mr. 0. Burnett, who, speaking on behalf of his sister, explained what had led up to the gift. Mr. Burnett went on to say " They had ordered nine bells—a most unusual number—the reason being that tunes such as " God Save the Queen " could not be phyed in an octave. The question of naming the bells had also to be dealt with, and they had decided to dedicate the first bell (a tenor G), weighing about half a ton, to Lord Roberts, the inscription upon it being " Roberts, Peace, Goodwill." The second bell was dedicated to Cecil Rhodes. The third was dedicated to Bullerand Methuen. General Buller had been a great soldier before he came to South Africa, where he had been censured, but he was a great soldier still. Methuen was a man who had not been censured by the War Office, but by public opinion. The inscription on this bell, said Mr. Burnett, was " God is my defence; He will not fail me," the idea being that though these men had failed, they still had God to lean on. The next was dedicated to General White, with the inscription " They came round about me daily." The next bell was dedicated to Kekewich, and the inscription would be " They compassed me about." BadenPowell had the next one dedicated to bim, with the inscription "He has triumphed gloriously." The next was ledicated to the late Generals Symondttnd Wauchope, who represented those who had given up their liveß in the country's cause. The inscription it iore was " Faithful unto Death." The n«xt bell was dedicated to Colonels] Newall and Sjmmerville, with the inscription '' I will bring my sons from i tfar." The last bell was dedicated to 1 Generals Kitchener, Kelly-Kenny, and French, with the inscription ■' Throfe, mighty men break through the ho3ts.": Vlr, Burnett said that as the bells were to commemorate the proclamation if peace, anything of a victorious charicter, such as " See the Conquering Hero comes," etc., should not be included. The first tune given would be 'he Reveille, at 6 a.m.; at 8 a.m. " Caller Herrin "; 12 o'clock, " Come io dinner"; 1 o'clock "Last Rose of Summer"; 5 p.m., "Polly put the kettle on, and we'll all have tea"; 8 o'clock "Vesper BelU"; and 10 o'clock " God Save the Queen." The hours inly would be struck on Sunday. Mr. Burnett stated that Miss Burnett wished to given an expression of thanks to the Hon. J. G. Ward for his prompt ind timely offer to house the bells in a manner befitting the object for which they are given, and to express regret that, for reasons having no reference to the goodness of Mr. Ward's proposals, Miss Burnett has seen fit to decline his ofler, she having reserved the right in the gift to be consulted as to site."