STATUE ON WHEELS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 740, 19 April 1933, Page 7

STATUE ON WHEELS.

Rides Round City in Early Morning. LIFTED FROM PEDESTAL. While alarm clocks were ringing in bedrooms of the city early this morning the statue of John Robert Godley was lifted from its pedestal in Cathedral Square, bound securely on a lorry, and taken for a ride to Dundas Street. It was to cheat the insatiable curiosity of the public that the hour of six o’clock was chosen for the move, preparatory to erecting the figure in the central plot. The result was that three photographers made up the select audience. The statue was trussed up with ropes and gear yesterday and everything was ready for a prompt, start this morning. One rope round the neck robbed it of its charahteristic austerity; others under the arms and round the waist provided a hold for the endless chain dangling ominously above the head. The final adjustments were made and men heaving on the chain raised the statue from the position where for so many years it has placidly regarded the varied happenings in the Square. Not a Neat Fit. A workman perched his hat on the statue and that added nothing to its dignity. Higher the statue went until clear of the pedestal. Then it was gently lowered to the floor of g. lorry, where it suffered the indignity again of being bound and trussed with stout ropes. The lorry had been able to back right up alongside the pedestal. Secured beyond escape, the statue began a descent of the mound, under careful direction as planks were placed under the lorry’s wheels to guard against capsize. Once the gravel path was reached all was easy and the lorry, with its load, headed down Colombo Street for the yard of J. Tait, Ltd., 24, Dundas Street, where it will remain until the pedestal is re-erected on the new site.

Early morning workers in Manchester and Dundas Streets were amazed at the novel sight of the statue being transported from its accustomed place in the Square. Eventually it was deposited at the yard, where arrangements had already been made for its reception. There the statue will occupy its new position for about a week. As soon as the council workmen have rebuilt the stonework, it will have another journey through the streets and again look out on the Square.