MONUMENT TO THE MOUTOA NATIVES.

Wellington Independent, Volume XX, Issue 2204, 11 May 1865, Page 2

MONUMENT TO THE MOUTOA NATIVES.

Wii saw, yesterday, a photograph of the monument recently purchased at Melbom*ne, by Dr Featherston. lo bo erected at Wangauui in memory of the loyal natives who lost their lives in the battle ofMoutoa. It will be recollected that the lion. John Johnston proposed, in Council, an address of thanks to the combatants in that spirited and decisive light, to be followed by the erection of a monument to the slain. Although the proposal was carried wil.li scarcely a dissentient voice, the erection of Ilio monument has necessarily been delayed by the difficulty of ob. Liining one that would be at all commensurate to the occasion. During Dr Featherslon's late visit to Australia he was fortunate in purchasing a veiy handsome monument of white marble. It is fourteen or fifteen feet high and partakes of a Grecian chai*acter. It consists of a square pedestal placed upon double plinths. The cornice is cavcttocd and filleted, and the over-weathering is a blocking upon which is placed a stopped fluted column with an attic base, surmounted by a life-size statue of Grief reclining upon a broken portion of the haft. The Tipper portion of the pedestal is enriched, at each corner are corbelled cusps, from which spring an ornamental arch, the spandrils are panelled [ bas relievo carvings ofiiowers being executed I therein. The whole is surrounded by an i ornamental cast iron railing, secured to stone coping. The names of the dead have yet to be cut on the pedestal, but in the course of a couple of months it will doubtless be received ready for erection. The monument is from the works of Messrs Huxley, Parker and Co., of Melbourne.