ATKINSON MEMORIAL.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 9563, 3 December 1892, Page 2

ATKINSON MEMORIAL.

A meeting was held in the Council Chambers at 4 o'clock on Friday afternoon to consider mattere in connection with tho, Atkinson memorial. There was only a small attendance. Bis Worslrp the Mayor, who presided, stated that tho meeting had erroneously been convened as a public one, whereas it should have been a meeting of the Committee appointed at a previous public meeting. They would remember thatapnblio meeting was callod some time back to consider a circular re ceired from Hawera, which was ''the centre of the late Sir Harry Atkioeon'e coostitu ncy of Egraont. That circular asked this Borough to co-operate in erecting a national monument at Wei linston, and the meeting held here appointed aJarge Committee to attend to the matter. Subscription lists were opened, but there hud been only a poor response, It was decided to close tho lists on December 8, and it was understood that the Committee would meet a few, days before this date, hence bis" reabOD for convening this present meeting, which should have been a Committee ono. Mr Samuel said that the reason there was no response from the public here was because a great many persons objected "to subscribing funds for a memorial at Wellington, as, they considered that in. vje\y of tha lato,Sir.Harry Atkinson's close connection with this district a momorial .should .be raised here. Tho monument in Wellington would be a national one, but what was desired here was a memorial >n some public place, like the Recreation Grounds, to remind us of one to whom this district in tho past was indebted. Be asked if the question of limiting the. raising of funds to 'the object of a local memorial could not be considered in preference to the matter that had been raised in the circular from Hawera. His Worship^ was suro that the funds collected already would have to go to the movement' initiated at Hawera, and this meeting had been callet in connection with that matter. He then stated that he understood that a meeting of delegates in connection with the nafonal monument movement would shortly be -held- in ;■ Wellington, when a largo and repiosehtative gathering would?) assemble ; and he had also'.leafned movement was being well siippdrftid By all the Boroughs of any consequenco in the .colony. After further discussion .in .which Messrs Samuel', ' Bauchope, 1 Weston, Berry and Archde con Govett took part, it was decided on Mr Bauchopc's motion, to call the Committee together at 4.30 o'clock on.MoUjday, when tho. question of subscribing' to, a ,fbcal ..nierhoriul ' '<>r . a national memorial will be considered. ~ -