BURWOOD SCHOOL.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15750, 17 November 1916, Page 9

BURWOOD SCHOOL.

ROLL OF HONOUR UNVEILED. SPEECH BY HON. G. TV. RUSSELL. An interesting ceremony was performed at the Burwood Public School last evening, when a roll of honour of old boys of the school who have enlisted during the preseat- wa r was unrolled by the Hon. G. W. Russell. The Honours Board, which was provided by the proceeds of a concept held by the children of the school early in the year, contained the following names:— Captain Ormsby Barnes, Privates H. Barnes. E. Bliss, T. G. Bisman, J. Bisman, J. Briggs. C. Campbell, H. G. Fearon. A. E. Fearon. L. Grady, R. Gray. W. T. Goodrich, F. A. T. Hobbs, H. inwood. F. W. .Leggott, J. Leggott, •W. A Mercer. H. Mercer. M. Moonev, K. McLeod, H. B. McLeod, J. Partridge, A. Cyril Parrish. H. F. Rider, R. R. Sargent, R. Turner, W. Thomas, and C. Went.

Tho chairman of the School Committee. Mr H. P. M. Berry, presided over a large attendance, and briefly introduced Mr Russell, the member for the district, who said that it was to him a very great honour to take part in the very patriotic function that evening. "Whenever he came to Burwood he felt that he was at home. (Applause). He congratulated the young men of the vhool on the patriotism they had shown—coming forward in such numbers from such a small district to fight the battles of the nation for righteousness and liberty. In view of our pledges to the Mother Country, the Government had found it necessary to bring in the Military Service Act, which had come into real operation that day. Over 60,000 of the pride and flower of our manhood had come forward voluntarily and expressed their willingness to make the supreme sacrifice for King and country and liberty. That was a fact of which he, as a New Zealand citizen, was extremely proud. Regarding those who had died, he. offered to their relatives his most sincere sympathy. They had fought for their country, and for their freedom, ior their brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, and than theirs no death could be more glorious. Mr Russell went on to speak in eulogistic terms of New Zealand's .Dreadnought, which had been sent, with the Dominion's consent, to the North Sea, far away from New Zealand. She had done magnificent service, and had escaped almost scathless. We had to give thanks for the fact that Britain ruled the seas, and that, the Navy had power so invincible. Mr Russell proceeded to trace the causes which led up to the outbreak of war, its subsequent progress, and the really wonderful growth of the British Army. The speaker went on to speak of what New Zealand had done in the Avar. She had already sent away twice as many men as "Wellington had altogether when he gave Napoleon his quietus at Waterloo. Wo had a greafe little country and one of which we should be proud.

Mr Russell proceeded to oxplain at some length the work -which he had done in connexion -with, the war, and the way in which h© had given his best assistance to the National Government. In fact, lie said, he might, safely say that next to the Minister of Defence, on .him had fallen the greatest share of war work since the advent of the '.National Government. He went on to describe the excellent hospital arrangements for soldiers in various parts of Xew Zealand, with particular reference to the King George V. Hospital at Rotoruaand the Queen Mary Convalescent Home at Hanmer: From July loth, 1913,' until August 31st, 1916, said Mr Russell, out of 1306 returned mon who had passed through the hospitals of Xew Zealand, only 21 had passed to their last long rest. After some further remarks, Mr Itussell unveiled the Honours Board amidst applause. At the conclusion of the ceremony, the Minister was accorded a hearty vote of thanks. Musical items were > contributed by Miss "Russell, Messrs Lake. Webb, and Russell. A collection for the Patriotic Fund s was taken up during the night, which resulted in £8 beftig obtained.