FUNCTION AT ISLAND BAY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 42, 13 November 1918, Page 8

FUNCTION AT ISLAND BAY

A SUCCESSFUL AFFAIR. The I'unclioii at Island Bay yesterday afternoon was very successful indeed. It was held in the school grounds, and there was a remarkably line attendance. The school children mustered in strong force, and the Boy Scouls, in I heir neat uniforms, were also present. There must have been an attendance of quite 500 to (iOO people. The chairman of the School Committee (Mr. J. O. Shorland) presided, and the proceedings were opened with the singing of tho National Anthem.

11l a brief address the chairman paid 'that Prussianism was dead as far as he was concerned. Prnssianisni died at •1.25 that morning. Be- received a telephone message at that hour, and was told to sit tight on it. He had to get the assistanco of several other Bay residents to help him to sit tight on that message. Where now is the Kaiser? Ho is in Holland. ("Saying prayers," interjected someone.) "No," said Mr. Shorland, "he is conversing with Beelzebub, and should now be with him. The Kaiser pulled the tail of ihe British lion and has realised the consequences."

After tlie singing of the "Old Hundreth" the ltev. J. G. Castles in a short speech said there ought to be ill everybody's mind a feeling of thanksgiving to the Giver, of air good things. lie had felt all along that justice would prevail, and there was no question about that. The only question that troubled 1 him was whether we were the people chosen by God to see that justice done. We had to thank God that, we had been made His instrument in this, and that we had been spared to see it brought about in .our own time. He did not think it had been an accident when Paris was first saved from the brutal Hu,n in 1914, nor did he believe it was an accident that Marshal Focii in July last was able a second time to save Paris. He said they ought to be thankful for the close of the war, for the return of their boys, and for tho .blessings of peace. . At tho request of the chairman all present stood in silence for a feu seconds in memory <of those of our lads who sacrificed 'their lives in the cause of liberty and justice. ■ , Then followed the singing of Kipling s "Recessional," a prayer by the Rev. J. G Castles, and the singing of the hymn "O God, our Help in Ages Past. I lie "Jfarseillai.se" was sung through gustily and cheers given for France. The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke), who was present, 'briefly addressed those present Turning to the school children, he said it was a good time to be alive, for never in tlie historr of tlie world hn.d there been such a 'glorious message given .o the world as the message that was transmitted that morning that Germany had signed the armistice and lhat liberty and democracy had been saved. Mr R-. A. Wright, M.P.,' made an earnest but brief speeoh in keeping with the occasion, and Major Wallingford, Col. Hughes, and Councillors Norwood, Bennett, and Jf'TConzie als<p fpoke, Mr. W. Brown rceited "Tlie Pay." The programme was much too lengthy and too tiring for the children and for the adults, who had already taken part in the city's celebrations. Tho proceedings concluded with the singing of tho National Anthem.