TROOPERS' MEMORIAL COMMITTEE.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 11593, 31 October 1901, Page 3

TROOPERS' MEMORIAL COMMITTEE.

A meeting of the Troopers' Memorial Committee was held in the Borough Chambers last evening There were present Mr W Priest (in the chair). Colonel Jowsey, Messrs H. Mee. J. Toneycliffe, G. Granger, T. D. Young, W. Griffiths, and R. C. Tennent. Apologies were made for His Worship the Mayor, Messrs J. Hole, H. B. Kirk, and T. Harney. Correspondence was received from a number of gentlemen accepting positions on the committee, two declining on the ground of business engagements. The secretary reported that the collection boxes placed on the military sports ground hadj returned lis 6d. All members elected to the committee at last meeting had received notices. The schools of South Canterbury, except the town schools, had received circulars suggesting

that suitable pupils should be asked to canvass for subscriptions. Mr J. Boys had very kindly supplied a map of the borough ior the committee to cut up for canvassing purposes. Mr J. Ellis had also assisted very much by carting the boxes to the sports ground. Hearty votes of thanks were passed to Messrs Boys and Ellis for their courteous assistance.

It was resolved that a collection be made on the show grounds, and to ask the Mayoress to ask ladies to assist. The ladies were very anxious to assist in the work, and had been left out ia the cold this time.

Mr Young said that he was very much disappointed in the meeting, which, he was afraid, showed a cooling down of the first enthusiasm. He hoped that those absent would roll up better at nest/ meeting. He asked what success the collectors had met with. The chairman said that with his co-col-lector, Mr Straehan, he had raised about £l3 13s ; . Mr Tennent said that he had in the bank about £57. Mr Young said that he and Mr Griffiths had collected £l4 from about half of their district. Mr Toneycliffe reported that he and Mr Kirk had collected £1 5s in cash, and £3 17s was promised. The secretary presented a list of volunteer officers in South Canterbury. He suggested that each officer should receive a list for collecting purposes.—Mr Young said that it reflected very little credit on the volunteer officers for the lukewarmness they had shown in the matter. Colonel Jowsey and Mr Griffiths moved,* and it was carried—" That the Mayoress be requested to convene a meeting of ladies for the purpose of canvassing on the second day of the show, and both days of the races for the troopers' memorial fund." '. Mr Tennent moved,-and it was carried, that members of committee be specially notified of the next meeting of the committee, and be requested to attend, and that those who have undertaken to collect be asked to report progress. Several collectors being unable to undertake the work, it was resolved that the secretary be requested to secure the services of lady collectors. Mr Tennent made a suggestion, as to the form of the memorial. He suggested that a bronze figure of a trooper on horseback,, correct in every particular, would be most suitable, as showing to their descendants the kind of men who went to the war. The' cost would-be about £SOO or £6OO for the bronze figure, and no doubt the Harbour Board would supply the necessary bluestone. The names of all fallen South Canterbury troopers, or any who had previously gone from South Canterbury, could be inscribed on the pedestal. This was only a suggestion, but an idea of the form of the memorial might induce the country people to subscribe more liberally. The meeting then closed. i