PETONE CATHOLIC BAZAAR

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 129, 25 February 1919, Page 6

PETONE CATHOLIC BAZAAR

TWO BRAVE MEN HONOURED. A bazaar organised by members of the Petone Catholic Church for tho purposo of raising funds for the erection of a memorial church for Chaplain Father M'Menamiu, who was killed in action, was opened last evening by tho Hon. tho Minister of Defence, Sir James Allen. Opportunity was also taken by the Minister of Defence to present the Military Medal won by tho late Gunner E. A. Parr to his mother. The Rev. Father Quealy explained the objects of the bazaar, and paid a tribute to the. memory of tho late Gunner A. I'arr and Chaplain M'Men'amin. Sir-James Allen said he had a double function to perform—first of all he had to present the Military Medal to the mother of Gunner Parr, who lost Kls lifo at tie front, and his next was tu open the bazaar, which was being held for the purpose of, raising funds to carry out tho work Chaplain M'Menamin had at heart. First of all ho would deal with Gunner Parr. Gunner Parr had been killed in action on October 30. 1917, and lio regretted very much that Gunner Parr had not beeji able to come back alivo and well in order thnt lie might himself receive the medal. He was sure they all felt very deep sympathy for his parents and relatives, particularly his mother, who had bravely came there to receive tho medal. Gunner Parr, killed in action, was awarded the medal for conspicuous bravery, and no words of his could convey to the mother what ho would lilco to tell her and what tho people would like him to toll her, but he could assure her they all lionoured this brave mail and sympathised with her and his other relatives in tho loss of one who was of necessity dear to them. He hopod this medal would bring comfort to her and to a lasting memorial of what this man did. Sir James Allen then handed to Mrs. Parr the medal won by her eon, Gunner E. A. Parr.

The Minister then went on to perform the opening ceremony in connection with the bazaar. He said they, were met there to do honour to. nhotlier brave man, Chapliiin M'Jlcnamin, killed in action, and lie hoped they would realise the full meaning of the words. Chaplains were not sent away from* New Zealand with rifles and bayonets to fight with; they had to light another battleto fight against temptation and evil. Chaplain 11/Menamin was 0110 _ of our bravest chaplains, and lie (Sir James_ Allen) was sorry he was not spared to come back and resume his duty, and he deeply regretted his loss. General Godley had written to him more than once about Chaplain M'Jlenamin, and asked that he might have accelerated promotion.' That acceleration had been granted. Chaplain Jl'Menamin had been one of the first chaplains to leave • New Zealand Chaplain M'Jlenamin's work, was well known to the Defence huthorities, and had ho been spared to come back his services would have been of great value with the Territorials. He felt great pleasure in being present to do honour to two brave men—one a fighting soldier and the other a fighting chaplain, brothers in arms, brothers in adversity, and now brothers beyond the vale. He had much pleasure in declaring the bazaar open, and hoped they would bo able.to raise sufficient funds to carry out Fattier M'Menaniiii's cherished plans. The Hon. T. M. Wilford also expressed his pleasure at being able to help in the bazaar and to pay tribute to Gunner Parr, who had "gone M'cst." Sneaking in regard to the lato Chaplain 'M'Jlenamin, Jlr, Wilford' said that if .out of this war one great war memorial, was erected, and an epitaph written for those who laid down ilu;u- lives in this great cause, the epitaph he would write would be in these words: "For your to-morrow they.gave, their lives in this groat cause, the epitional Government, he would say that New Zealand had got to stand by and seo that every one of the returning men was given a good 6tart. In conclusion, he hoped they would all give willingly and help to carry out Father Jl'Mentvuiiii's cherished plan.

Archbishop O'Shea also expressed his pleasure at being present to pay tribute to t.ho memory of two bravo men.

Tho stall-holders were:—Produce stall. Mesdames Ford, Brice, Fitzgerald, and Nicholas; sweets stall,- Mrs. Upton, Misses Upton, M. Carter, F. Chesterman. and O'Connor (2); Children of. Mary's stall, Misses Guthrie, Sheehy, Gaynor (3), Linehan, Cloherty, Gleeson, and A. Guthrie; fancy, Mesda'.nes Soundes, Lynskey, Donovan, Coles, Gardner, _ Wheeler, Powell, and Miss Power; plain, Mesdames Maunder, Ward, Wilcox, Leitch, Gate, and Misses l l '. Casey and Keating: refreshment, room, Mesdames Ryder, Lazarus, O'Halloran, Levy, and Parson, and' Misses Parson, and .Walsh. An excelleut musical programmo ivas provided by Misses Zelda Bailey, Kathleen O'Brien, Betty Cnrr, Crossell Vaughan, Ira Wolfgang, and Iris luglesby. "