Newspaper Article 2004 – Loving tribute to horse restored

Loving tribute to horse restored

‘Handsomest, gamest, most docile equine celebrity’ remembered.

A memorial to an old horse on the Napier-Taihape road has been restored.

The wooden memorial was restored by members of the committee which organised West to the Annie, a history of the area from Fernhill to the Kawekas. The committee decided the memorial should be restored.

The Historic Places Trust provided money to have the work by Matapiro builder John Johnston and Doug Potts Signwriting.

The monument to Patriarch, described as “one of the handsomest, gamest and most docile of equine celebrities” who died on September 27, 1894, aged 25, stands near the corner with Ohiti Road.

Nothing is known about Patriarch’s background but the memorial was put up by his owner, Wi Broughton, to mark the horse’s burial place.

A willow tree was planted on the spot when the horse was buried. It is still growing there.

Restoration organiser Mervyn Harper said Wi Broughton’s daughter, Tania, was at the ceremony to unveil the restored memorial last month.

Ms Broughton still owns the land the memorial is on.

Photo caption – HANDSOME MEMORIAL: Historian Patrick Parsons and Mervyn Harper with the restored gravestone.
HBTODAY PICTURE: DUNCAN BROWN

Text on plaque –

“THE FINISH

IN MEMORY
OF OLD
PATRIARCH

One of the handsomest gamest and most docile of equine celebrities who died on Sunday the 27 Sept. 1894 aged 25 years
this tablet is erected by Campbell, the old man of Ngapuke”