SERVICES IN SUBURBS

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28261, 26 April 1957, Page 12

SERVICES IN SUBURBS

Riccarton

Between 150 and 200 persons paraded to the Riccarton Anzac Day service at the memorial gates of the Wharenui School, where the address was given by the Rev. R. J. Griffiths. The Mayor of Riccarton, Mr E. J. Bradshaw, presided, and with him were the Deputy-Mayor, Cr. V. G. Spiller,

and the member of Parliament for the district, Mr M. A. Connelly. A prayer was said by the Rev. L. W. Matthews, who also pronounced the benediction; the Rev. F. L. Allen read the lesson; and Mr E. W. H. Prebble, the president of the Riccarton sub-branch of the Returned Services’ Association, recited "For the Fallen.” The Addington Workshops Band led the parade and provided musical accompaniment at the service. PAPANUI The Returned Services’ Association hall at Papanui was well filled for the citizens’ Anzac Day service under the auspices of the Papanui sub-committee of the Christchurch Returned Services’ Association. The speaker was Mr G. C. Weston. A prayer of commemoration for the fallen was given by Canon M. Cocks; the Rev. W. M. Hendrie read the lesson; and the Rev. W. T. Blight, who was chairman, pronounced the benediction and gave the dedication after wreaths had been laid near a memorial plaque on the front of the hall at the close of the service. Mr G. D. Hattaway recited "For the Fallen,” and “Last Post” and “Reveille”

were sounded by buglers of the Papanui High School. Between 70 and 80 former servicemen under Mr A. C. Harris paraded at the service. They were also accompanied by cadets from the Papanui High School. NEW BRIGHTON There was a full attendance at the Roxy Theatre yesterday morning -for the Anzac Day service held under the auspices of the New Brighton sub-branch of the Returned Services’ Association. The Deputy-Mayor of Christchurch (Mr G. Manning) made introductory remarks, and Captain R. H. Knight said a prayer. The Rev. J. E. Ellis gave a scripture reading before an address by the Rev. E. Baker. The benediction was pronounced by the Rev. D. C. Spencer. Hymns were accompanied by the New Brighton Silver Band.

After the service the parade marched to the cenotaph, where wreaths were placed. “Last Post” and "Reveille” were sounded by buglers of the West Christchurch High School Band. The parade later marched to the New Brighton R.S.A. clubrooms, where Mr J. Mathison, M.P. for Avon, addressed those who had taken part. LYTTELTON Lyttelton observed Anzac Day with a memorial service in the Harbour Light Theatre yesterday afternoon. An address was given by Lieutenant-Colonel J. A. Worsnop, M.B.E. Hymns were accompanied by the Lyttelton Marine Band, a Scripture reading was given by the Rev. D. K. Boyd, and prayers were offered by the Rev. J. J. Merton. -SPhose present afterwards marched to the Cenotaph, where wreaths were laid and Last Post and Reveille sounded by Mr F. J. Oakley. Those on parade were members of the Returned Services’ Association, the St. John Ambulance Division, Nursing Division, and cadets, wolf cubs and sea scouts. The attendance of the public 1 was not large. A service was held at the ser- ’ vicemen’s portion of the public ■ cemetery in the morning by mem--1 bers of the Lyttelton Returned 1 Services’ Association. The service > was conducted by Mr Merton, and s at the conclusion Last Post was sounded by Mr Oakley.

WOOLSTON

About 300 persons attended a service in the memorial rose garden in the grounds of St. John’s Anglican Church, Woolston. Returned servicemen paraded from the Returned Services’ Association club rooms with the Woolston Brass Band and* the Highland Pipe Band of the Christchurch branch of the Scottish Society of New Zealand. The service was led by the Rev. H. F. Thomson, and the Rev. W. Chambers read the Scripture lesson and said a prayer. The address was given by Mr W. J. Ringer, a former member of the Coldstream Guards, who for the last 18 years has been working on the Afghan border. Cornetists of the Woolston band

sounded “Last Post” and “Reveille,’’ and a piper played a lament. Wreaths were laid by Mr W. Brockman for the Returned Services’ Association and by Mr T. S. West for the church.

SUMNER

About 350 persons attended an Anzac Day service in the Sumner Town Hall. The parade left from the Sumner School and marched to the Sumner Returned Services’ Association club rooms, where a

wreath was laid on the memorial gates. All units in the parade —the Sumner sea cadets, two St. John Ambulance units, the Sumner Volunteer Fire Brigade, scouts, cubs, guides and brownies

—then laid wreaths at the Town Hall.

The chairman at the service was the Mayqr of Christchurch (Mr R. M. Macfarlane, M.P.) and the Town Clerk (Mr H. S. Feast) also attended. An address was given by the Rev. A. T. McNaughton and the Rev. H. Ford said a prayer of commemoration and read a lesson from the Old Testament. The Rev. B. W. Don said a prayer of thanksgiving and read a lesson from the New Testament.

PREBBLETON

The Minister of Railways (Mr J. K. McAlpine, M.P.) was the speaker at a citzens’ service held in the Prebbleton Hall arranged by the Paparua sub-branch of the Returned Services’ Association. The service was attended by about 150 persons and there were about 50 servicemen on parade held by the City of Christchurch Pipe Band. Assisting with the service were the Revs. D. S. Knight and R. Blair. “Last Post” and “Reveille” were played by Mr L. A. Neale and wreaths were laid on the war memorial for the Junior Red Cross, the Prebbleton schoolchildren and the Returned Services’ Association. Wreaths were also laid at Hornby and Fendalton.

ROMAN CATHOLIC SERVICE

Solemn Pontifical Requiem Mass was celebrated in the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament yesterday morning, when more than 250 former servicemen and former servicewomen attended.

The parade, under the command of Major A. J. Steele, headed by the Canterbury Caledonian Society Pipe Band and followed by cadets of St. Bede’s College and Xavier College, with their drum and bugle bands, marched from Latimer square to Xavier College, and thence to the Cathedral, where Mass was celebrated by the Bishop, the Most Rev. E. M. Joyce, who also gave the occasional sermon. Bishop Joyce Was assisted by the Very Rev. Father T. Liddy, administrator, and the Rev. Father P. Heagney, S.M., and the Rev. Father G. Glover, C.S.S.R. “With the passing of the years our thoughts and remembrances become our own and are hidden in our own souls,” said Bishop Joyce. The older men knew the sacrifices they had made and now liked to think of them in silence. “In charity and love we pray for the .war dead, remembering their valour and bravery with a prayer that the younger generation may not be call on to bear arms in anger,” he said.

“Our duty today, in gratitude and charity, is to pray for our dead and for those—and there are many—whose lives \have been shortened by war service. It is not from the sword or atom bomb (hat peace comes to the world. The atom bomb or something more terrible could impose peace

terms, but not bring peace,” said Eishop Joyce.

The Pontifical ceremonies were directed by the Rev. Father C. Curnow, the sacred chant of the Mass was given by the students of Holy Name Seminary, and the catafalque guard was mounted by the cadets of St. Bede’s College.