THE SOLDIERS' MONUMENT.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11689, 22 November 1892, Page 2

THE SOLDIERS' MONUMENT.

The scheme for erecting a suitable monument to the soldiers who fell in tho long harassing wars with the Maoris I extending, with occasional cessations, from 1647 to 1870, ha 3 now rouohed its last stage, and a vary short time now will see ifc completed. The idea originated in 1889, having sprung from a suggestion that the soldiers' graves should be cleared ! and tho inscriptions on the grave stones ' should be preserved. When the proposal to erect a tnonumgnt was ma do a com- ' mittee to carry it out wa3 formed forth- ' with, which was composed of Majors ' Purnell, Neill, and Loraax, Mussrs J. T. : Stewart, W. Brace, J. G. Sharpe, W. F, ' Russell, W. Pinches, and C. Burnott, the last mrntioned acting a 9 honorary secre- ' tary. A shilling subscription was set on foot, from which the sum of £30 was raise. This was augmented by further donations yielding JBIIO. Grants of .£IOO from the Government and .£25 from the Wanganui Borough Council were also received, I which brought the total funds up to £270. The cosb already amounts to about .£295, so that Mr Burnett, the hon. sec, is out of pocket to tho extent of .£25, which together with about .£5 yet to be expended will necessitate the collection <f another .£3O to complete the monument. The monument as it stands presents a good and solid appearance. It ia 15ft high and measures 18ft by 12ft at the base. Tho base is of shell rock, upon which is built a conciete platform. On this platform the monument is placed, leaving a space o£ about three feet wide all round. It is proposed to build four heaps of shot on the platfom, one to be placed at each corner. The lion is mounted on a heavy tomb-shaped mass of Waikawa bluestone, surrounded at the top by a massive cornice ornamented with a beautifully chisselled design representing a continuous wreath of bay leaves. Six marble tablets for the inscription are let into the' sides of this portion of the monument, one on the north side, one on the south, and two each on the east and west. On these tablets are inscribed the names of the soldiers whose memory it is desired to preserve, together with a record of the object of tho monument. A sleeping lion, cat out or Mount Somer's stone by Mr George Sheriff, the well known and talented artist, crowns the whole. This figure was carved out of two blocks of stone, each weighing about two tons. Mr George bherriff devoted many weeks of gratuitous labour in sculping the sleeping lion, which now only requires a few finishing touches to complete it. The block of bluestoae on which the lion rests was carved and erected by Mr "VV. McGill, monumental mason, who has fulfilled his work to the complete satisfaction of all concerned The lion, as we have already mentioned, was mounted and placed in position on Saturday last by Mr Robert Law. Some day, when they can afford the expense, tho Committee intend to place an ornamental iron fence, tound tho monument, to protect it from rough usage and possible defacement. In the meantime, to' make -things look more complete, the Domain Board will need to trim up the surroundings somewhat by attention co the trees, and to make a gravelled walk round the nionuaienfcnnd provide convenient approaches. To the Committee who have worked so energetically in providing such a substantial anj lasting memorial of .the brave men who fell in the service of their country the warmest thanks of the public are due:' On the Secretary in particular heavy and most trying duties have fallen, especially in tho collection of a complete list of those who fell in each cf the many battles fought in the district. In this connection special thanks are due to tho KegUtrar-General, the Rev. T. L. Tudor, the Very Rev.' Father Kirk, Major Neill, Sergeant-major McMillan, and Mr Henry Peake for their ready assistance in supplying such information as was in their power. Below we publish in full The Inscription on tub Monument : In grateful momory of the gallant officers and men of Her Majesty's imperial Arm/ and Navy and Colonial forces who died in the service of their country during the long wars with the natives of those islands, and who lio buridd in and near this Jtown, this monument has been erected by the inhabitants of Wanganui, MD, CCC, XCIt, Near this spot stood' the Rutland Block House. Erected 1817. Removed 1883:— 18i7— Privates of the 58th Resit— Jn. McMoran, Wm. Webster, Denis Neville, ffm. Wellar, Jn. Moouey, D. L. Treatdowner, Private Jo. Pratt. 65th R«gt. j Private Wm. Connolly, R.A.; Seaman Jn. Clatworthy, and SI. Sculthorpe, of H.M.S. Calliope. 1848 -Sergt. Gej. Booth, Privates 'Hios Bartholomew, George McAllister, all of the 65th Kegt. 1849— Privates Hry. John Jn. Glynn. Ptk. Moore, Thos. Williams, Ju. W. fctarr, all ot the 05th Regfc. 1850— Private Wm. Lordon, Gsth Regt. 1851— Private Mtw. Lofthouse, 65th Regt. 1853— Private Jn. Ward, 65th Regt. 1854— Privates Wm. Clayton, Jn. Snook, Dnl. Curtis, all of the 65th Regt. 1855— Private Thos. Mansfield, 65th Regt.; Private Jn. Wood, R.E. 1857— Capt. D. Bazelgette, 65th Regt. 1858— Lieut. Fredk. Womyss, Csfch Rest. 1861 — Ensign Wm. Alexander. Serjeant Fredk. Smith, Privates Wm, Bowlder, Pfck. Cooaey, all of 65th Rent. 1862 — Privates Robt. Walter, Ptk. Muskall, Ml. Connor, all of 65th Regt. 18G3 — Drummer Kbt. Robertson, Private Jn. Anderson, 57th Re^t. 1861 — Sors;oantThoa. Traynor, Privates Keofo, Ml. Mul. Mulcahy.Mthw. Fleming, Ptk. Sheehan, all of 57tb Rogt. JBGS— Lieut. Maloy, R.E. ; Lieut, Wm. Masteraon, Lieut. Oct. R. Lawson, 18th Regt. ; Lieut. J. O. Johnstone, 40th Regt ; Ensign Geo. C. Jenkins, IBfch Regt.; Interpreter Cs. Brougbton, Staff; L. Cor, P. Conliu. 18th Regt. ; Privates P. Connolly, S. Heath wood, J. Brian, V. Travers, G, Sparks, Jnthn. Fisher, all of 18th Regt. ; Privates J. Gould, C. E. Poolo, S. Hargreaves, Wm. Erwin, Wm. Vine, Wm. Land, Ml. Murphy, Jn. Ronnie, Hry. Paris, Rt. Ridyard, all of 50th Regt. (Tho last 17 killed at Nukumaru and buried there), Private J. O. Hassard, fiOfch Regt. j Privates Jn Loughlin, E. Christopher, Thos, DohellHgh. Kilroy, Ptk. Shoa, Thos. Cross.™ all of 18th Royal Irish; Piivato Chas. Robinson, 68th Kogt. ; Corporal Ml, Kiic,. 57th Rogt. ; Private SI. Peake, &7th Rcgt\ ; Private Thos. Bradley, 40th Rout ; Privates Thos. Moon, Edwd. Dolano j, both of 14th Rogt. ; Privates Jmr. Boowey, Ed. Condon, both of G3lh Regt. ;' Privates Jas. O'Brien, Jn. Hobson, both of Colonial Forces ; Ensign lit. Whitfield, Colonial Forces. 18GG— Lieut.-Col. Jsn. Hansard, 57fch Rogt. j Privates Jfy, Costelloo, 67th Itogfc. j J?. Uarrity, 17th Eegfc. ; Jn. Bryan, GBth Rogt. ; SI. Wellesloy, 28th Reut. j Jn. Brennan, 14th Regt; Jas. Saddlers, sth .Fusiliers ; Jn. Lavcock, Jo. Barnet, S. Adams, Wm. Stone, all of thn Royal Artillery ; Sergeant F. Do. C. Duff, Colonial Forces; Privates Rt. Malcolm, M. Hogorty, C. Henley, H. Econemdes, C. Green, all of the Colonial Forces. 18G7 — Private Jn. Corrigan, Ptk. Sheridan, Thos. Prendervillct, all of the 18Ui Regfc, 3868— Private Rt. Brown, ]Bth Regt. The following killed at Moturoa : —Major Wm. M. Hunter, Sergeant K. Kerwin, Corpora! 0. N. Stockfish, Privates F. S. Rogers, S. Brown, J. Path. W, Leos, G. Suitor, Js. IColloy (died 187"), C. Eastwood, P. Norman, — Nogu?, \\ r . Nieholls, I). Ur<(iihart, It. Thompson, J. Devon, VV. Koiicaliy. 3 JJrowor, all of tho Colonial Forces. At Nguto o te mnnti ; Lieut. I U. B. Hunter, Private l?d. Wallace, both of the Colonial Forces. Place unknown : Privates T. Fijuirb, T. Cole, both of Colonial Forces. At Nukumaru j (?erge.anfc G. Mnxwoli, Colonial Forcps. At Wairoa j Corporal T. Collins, Colonial ( Foroos. AtOkotuku: Private Glonnon. ( 1860— At Kai Iwi ; Privates T. Me- s Xenzie, Colonial Forces. Karaka: Ser- i goant G. Menzif;s, Corporal G. Horsepool, i Privates C. Boyle, J. Banks, A. Barris, 1 M. Clowen, J. Howo. all of the Colonial Forces. Tho JS'iikumaru remains woro removed to this spot, 19th March, 1082. |

- 1 J A sevore fight took placo ovnr tlio i evii:tion of a farmer at Kanturk. RoiKn-f ( water, red hot irons, and Jive coals wero £ showered on the bailiff and his assistant. ;