SWARBRICK MEMORIAL.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17908, 2 January 1930, Page 8

SWARBRICK MEMORIAL.

TRIBUTE IN STONE.

DOIVIAIN ARCHWAY OPENED. A GREATER MONUMENT WITHIN. In recognition of the great work done by the late Mr A. Swarbrick, as chairman of the Hamilton Domain Board, a stone archway been erected to his memory at the entrance to the Lake Domain. This Was officially opened this afternoon by His Worship the Mayor, Mr J. R. Fow. The late Mr Swarbrick was chairman of the Domain Board from its inception els a nominated, body, Sn 1913, until his death last year, with the exception of one short period during which time he still retained his interest in the domains, as a member of the board. When the control of the domains was taken from the Borough Council, an end which Mr Swarbrick was largely instrumental in bringing about, he was appointed its first chairman. :At that time the domain lands themselves and the leases connected therewith were in a very bad condition. The domains now used as x-ecreation reserves were overgrown waste areas, and the leases of other areas were in a hopeless state of confusion. It Is largely the straightening out of the lease entanglements that constitute the chief monument to Mr Swarbrick’s work. The task was a colossal one and entailed months of careful searching and finally a special Act of Parliament. His light to prevent the draining and subdividing of the block of 68 acres of low-lying -ground on the Fx-anlcton side of the Lake, was also a notable achievement of his. But for his efforts in this, which entailed a big light against vested interests, and the acquirement of the area, by the board under the Public Works Act, it is highly probably that the waters would by now have been drained from the Lake, and that only a mud covered basin would have remained. His practical work also is a lasting tribute to his memory, for the swards and plantations which everywh're abound, are examples of his handiwork. The domain lands became the chief hobby of the old gentleman’s later years, and the early morning mists and the dying light of the day, would see him tramping around one or other‘of the reserves, no matter what the weather, directing operations and often at work with his coat off. On his death there was an immediate public response to the suggestion that his memory should be perpetuated in stone, and as a result, the present memorial arch has been raised at the entrance, to the Lake .Domain, which was his special pride. This afternoon’s function which was performed in the presence of members of the Domain Board, Box--ough Council and deceased’s family and a large number of the public.

Two marble slabs have been made which will be affixed to the panels above the two pedestrian entrances. One slab contains the inscription:— ’ This entrance is dedicated to Ihe memory of 'the late . Arthur Swarbrick. The other reads :—Chairman, Hamilton Domain Board, 1913-1921; 1925-1927. If you seek a further monument, look within.

The slabs were on exhibition at the entrance and will be erected within the next few days.

An Honour and Privilege.

His Worshi said he regarded it as an honour and privilege to open that memorial entrance to one of the town's pioneers and most prominent public men, one who had excelled in many departments of life, but who had left his -impress most deeply in connection with the preservation and development of the open spaces of the town. It seemed most fitting, said Mr. Fow, that the memorial should have taken the form it had. An open gateway was an enduring tribute to the farsightedness o a f the first chairman of the hoard as-at present constituted, the late Arthur Swarbrick. Until the year 1913. the Domain business was administered by the borough council, an ever changing body with prospects of ever increasing duties and responsibilities and one that could not possibly possess any fixity of purpose. A desire for a change was expressed and the present nominated board came into existence. The wisdom of the new venture of a separate board was now most evident. The late chairman had been untiring in his efforts to improve the position, and, when the new board was constituted, he bent his energies and his great abilities to formulating a sound and definite policy. His first objective was, to review the revenueearning lands—to provide a form of lease that, would be attractive to tenants and at the same time a prolection to the hoard. His profound knowledge of local body law had stood him in good stead in bringing this about, and the result was that we now had a contented tenantry, while the revenue of the hoard had been greatly increased. To do ibis entailed a vast amount, of work that was given ungrudgingly. His second objective was to provide areas for various forms of recreation, a part of his programme that was only partly realised. His third objective was tile opening up of the park lands and he soon realised that in Ihe Lake Domain the town had an asset of incalculable value. It was his greatest delight to develop it and Ms greatest pride was to see the young poplo revelling in the facilities provided. The stage reached to-day was no mean accomplishment. An Open Door.

The speaker compared the present -beautiful parks with the conditions existing 15 years -ago. From areas covered with noxious growth these beautiful grounds had been wrought on the very limited revenue which the board received from its leases, and the guiding hand in all this, until his death, was the late Arthur Swarbrick. There had been judicious tree planting, the formation of a foreshore and sai>y beach and a scenic drive that was a source of great interest and pleasure to visitors. The citizens of Hamilton were glad to think that Mr. Swarbrick lived to see literally thousands of children with their parents enjoying the freedom of that domain. Thus the Domain Board was moved 1o erect that arch, which was most -appropriate. It was not a harrier, hut an open door, an abundant entrance to the town’s health-giving, pleasure-providing possessions. On liis own behalf and on behalf of the Domain Board and the town, llis declared the entrance open. Tiie Late Mr. Swarbrick, he said, was not a man who easily fitted into the (Continued In next column.)

conventions of life, but he had a wide range of vision and when he left us, it was as though a'standard bearer had fallen.

A Fitting Tribute. Returning thanks on behalf of members of the Swarbrick family, Mr Fred. Swarbrick said it gave all the family a deep sense of gratitude to see the wonderful tribute which the Domain Board and the -citizens of Hamilton had paid to the memory of liis late father. It was very fitting indeed that this structure should be placed there to his memory. During the last few months of his life one of his most constant thoughts was how to provide a fitting entrance to the Lake Domain. He often remarked: “Perhaps some public spirited citizen will provide the money.” He did not realise that it would be his memory that would provide the means to erect that very fine entrance. There .was, added the speaker, nothing more fitting or that his family could have wished than that splendid tribute. His family.felt it deeply indeed that the people of Hamilton had thought so much of the late gentleman’s memory and work as to raise a monument to him.in stone. Even the tablets were inserted in the very words he would have wished. The Lake grounds were above all his most especial care and pride. ' He used to say the sports hodieb could speak for themselves, but that his ■responsibility was the tired mothers and little children who found their rest and pleasure at the lake. Therefore nothing more worthy could havg been erected than that entrance, and the speaker desired to thank the people on behalf of himself and the Swarbrick family, for that splendid tribute. Mr Fow then severed the ribbon ‘across the entrance and declared the memorial arch open. The South Auckland Pipe Band, which formed a guard of honour, then played two selections and the publio filed iwuicath the arch.