EDWARD GIBBON WAKEFIELD.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13956, 16 July 1909, Page 4

EDWARD GIBBON WAKEFIELD.

A movement has been started in England for the provision of a memorial iir New' Zealand to its great pioneer colonist, Edward Gibbon Wakefield, and the idea is to erect a statue in front of the new House of Parliament. - There is a statue xo John Ballancc .'u the Parliamentary grounds, but first place in importance should be such 'a memorial—if that is the best form —to'Mr Wakefield.' It is true that what he did towards making New Zealand what it is to-day has been smothered by the developments carried out by later leaders, but the. founder of New Zealand as a British colony should ho had iu continual grateful remembrance. The several provincial districts observo their Anniversary Days, with more, or less pride in the arrival of their " first ships"; but seldom, it is to be feared, is any thought given to those who pro* vided the ships, made arrangements for their sailing, and for tho introduction of the arrivals to their new homes. First and foremost among thorn, the originator of the New Zealand colonisation scheme, was Edward Gibbon Wakefield. His hones lie in an old cemetery at Wellington, and it is not right that the memory of the good ho did for New Zealand should bo interred with them. |