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Westland Explorer's Monument

 


In the nearby town of Hokitka (half an hour away) is the cemetery with this monument near the entranceway. It commemorates 4 men who lost their lives between 1863 and 1866 ;
  • George Dobson - road engineer, murdered in 1866
  • Charlton Howitt - explorer, drowned in Lake Brunner 1863
  • Charles Townsend - drowned at Greymouth (probably in the Grey River) 1863
  • Henry Whitcombe - surveyor, drowned in the Taramakau River in 1863
Construction of the memorial started 1868 and the railings were added in 1869.

Linking up with Mosaic Monday.

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Comments

DB Stewart said…
Monuments for everyday heroes seem so rare now.
7 September 2025 at 09:04
roentare said…
It really captures the hardships and risks faced by those early explorers and settlers of the West Coast
7 September 2025 at 09:42
Bill said…
That's a nice monument honouring those four men.
7 September 2025 at 11:17
magiceye said…
Good to be honoured.
7 September 2025 at 13:11
Tigger's Mum said…
Those early surveyors and engineers performed near miracles with the most basic of equipment. A recent survey on my place turned up an original survey witness mark (we had to dig down about a foot to find the iron rod driven in) and it was precisely where the survey with modern laser equipment said it should be. The old timers put that in using a compass for direction, dragging a brass 'chain' through the bush to measure distance, and siting through a level (theodolyte) to calculate angles of incline. Much respect and they ALL deserve a memorial.
7 September 2025 at 13:13
Jan K. alias Afanja said…
It's nice that those early pioneers are honored with that beautiful monument.
7 September 2025 at 19:54
Tom said…
...a tragic time.
8 September 2025 at 00:43
local alien said…
A monument that differs from the usual... For war heroes or disaster victims. Thank you for showing it. As Tigger says, there are many more that deserve a memorial
8 September 2025 at 00:56
s.c said…
Must have been important members of society to justify such a monument.
8 September 2025 at 02:48
Iris Flavia said…
Sad when you cannot swim.
8 September 2025 at 22:50
EricaSta said…
There are certainly tragic stories behind this memorial. However, I still need to find out more about the men mentioned.

Thank you for sharing at MosaicMonday
9 September 2025 at 19:09
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