HONOR THE DEAD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 177, 13 December 1912, Page 4

HONOR THE DEAD.

TISOH MEMORIAL AVENUE OPENED. SOME INTERESTIXG REMARKS. There was a small but representative gathering of citizens and their wives at the official opening of the Tiscli Memorial Avenue, which took place yesterdayafternoon at the entrance to tlic avenue Weymouth street.

Addressing the assemblage, the Mayor (Mr. G. W. Browne) said: "We meet today to pay a tribute to the memory of our esteemed friend and late Mayor, Mr. Gustave Tiscli. In all his public career he was actuated by his love for our town and its people. The one thought was ever uppermost as to how h'i could best serve the community. He identified himself with every, movement that stood for the beautificatibn of our town. In this direction he was successful in extending a walk alongside the sen front from the Henui to Cover street, and from Belt road to the harbor. He took great interest, and assisted the Beautifying Society in cleaning and planting Marsland Hill, and it was through his generosity that the foun- / tain memorial to fallen troopers in South Africa was completed and dedicated to do honor to those brave men. Ome great work that endeared him to us was his successful efforts in erecting an obelisk at Moturoa to commemorate the landing of the first settlers at New Plymouth. To his efforts are also due tlic starting of a young men's club and the carrying through of the Gill street extension. Shortly after our great loss you were called together at a public meeting, and it was decided that the initiative portion of our memorial should comprise an avenue of trees and carriage drive, to be called Tisch Avenue, | that would eventually reach to the harbor. Your committee have faithfully carried out the object for which you subscribed the funds, the cost of the work, comprising: Tree planting £3O, carriage drive £05." The Mayor added that the total receipts , were £ 107 4s Bd, and the expenditure £lOl 4s 9d, and announced that before handing the drive over to the Borough Council the committee would be pleased to receive donations of a few seats. One lady friend and » gentleman (Mr. Eustace) had already kindly offered to donate one each.

At the invitation of the Mayor, an exMayor (Mr. R. Cock) addressed/ those present, referring to the conversion of a wilderness into the avenue which was about to be opened. He recalled how, when Mavor, he had used his best efforts to prevail upon the school commissioners (now defunct) to secure this piece .of land for the borough. It was then practically worthless as a source of revenue. The borough was granted a long lease of the property, and he was pleased to notice that Hie Mayor and councillors were now endeavoring to secure it as an endowment for the borough. He looked forward to the day when the Esplanade would extend from the Waiwakaiho to the Breakwater. Continuing, Mr. Clark intimated his intention to donate a seat for the avenue, and, passing on, referred to the grand work performed by the late Mayor (Mr, Tisch). In him New Plymouth had lost a dear old friend. WHAT OF THE YOUNG MEN?

Mr. Cock then struck a note of regret at the apathy of the young men of the community in the beautifying of the town. In the formation. of the sports ground they had been really energetic, but with' its completion they had, for some unaccountable reason, slackened completely in their energies. It now remained for them to put the same work into the Avenue as they had put into the Sports Ground.

As one of the younger generation, Mr. C. Tabor took up the cudgels on their behalf. "The old people." lie remarked, "have got the experience, and THE'YOrXfi FELLOWS HAVE THE ENERGY.

li we combine this experience and energy, and work together, I think we shall accomplish a good lot. We have a lot of young fellows here, and in a .little time we' should have the road going right out to the Breakwater."

The Mayor: Thev have a splendid opportunity in the " shape of the Tisch Avenue.

The Hon. Mr. T. Kelly also spoke, commending the good work done by the lateMayor and other public-spirited men in Taranaki. He referred to the energy of the old settlers, ns typified not only in beautifying the town'but in the construction of the harbor. SOMETHING TO STRIVE FOR.,. He strongly urged the vesting of thewhole of the foreshore in the control of the borough. He did not think the Harbor Board would stand in the wav of handing it over. The borough had no 5 power to expend money on land that was not vested in its control. "He will never be forgotten in this town," was Mr. Okey's (M.P.) tribute to the deceased gentleman in the course of a few remarks. "I think," he added, "that it is generally admitted that as Mayor of the town'he filled that position in such a way that it is hard for those who have to'follow him. . . Ho had always A SMILE ON HIS FACE, whenever you met him." Concluding, Mr. Okey outlined much of the good work done by the late Mayor. The Mayor then declared the reserve open, the ceremony being formally performed by the Mayoress (Mrs. G. W. Browne), who cut the ribbon. The Mayoral party were then driven in. Mr. T. Salter's automobile over the -ivkolc of the newly-formed drive, which gives promise, with the growth of the avenue of Pohutukawa, of becoming a very picturesque resort.