ANZAC DAY.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 April 1923, Page 4

ANZAC DAY.

CELEBRATION AT HOKITIKA. MEMORIAL SERVICE AND I N VKII .INC CER EM ON V. Hokitika was favored with glorious weather for Anzne Day. The sky was perfect witii warm sunshine., making it a pleasure to he in the open air. Shortly niter 10 o'clock the military parade under ('apt. Stedman Aren Officer, M.C., moved off from the Drill Silt'd. The Town Band in full strength under Conductor C. Ross, headed the procession. and on the route, and at other l'nnotions played a number of selections and anthems. The Territorials some 2d strong provided a tiring party under Scrgt. Hutchison, while the Senior Cadets were in good force, and Returned Soldiers paraded in fair numbers. The parade marched to the I’i-meets Monument where the several eh'Ovli parties hrnkc off to attend the si'i'vii-is-. There were a large number in f If*' streets to witness the parade. and the attend)! nt cs at the churches were of a substantia! nature. AT ALL SAINTS' CHURCH. There was a very l uge congregation for the memci ial service. A large number of wreaths were deposited in the church. The choir rendered special hymns, including an Anthem “Lead Kindly Light." in which Alis- Stapleton was soloist, ami Ali-s Stapleton. Airs Ward and Messrs I’lirehas ami Ward took the quartette. Aliss Davies presided at the organ. The Rovd. A. (. Purclias. vicar of All Saints' was the preacher, the address being on memorials, and appropriate to the occasion of the unveiling of a brass tablet tb the memory of four members of All Saints’ Institute who fell in the meat War. Before the close of the service, the unveiling ceremony was carried out by Captain Stedman, M.C.. Area Officer who also brie tl v addressed the con-

gregation in suitable terms referring to the sacrifices made by the soldiers for the benefit of mankind. The Mcj tcprial was then solemnly unveiled, j The tablet is of brass and bears the j following inscription : —- TO THE OI.ORV OF 00 0 I And Sacred to the .Memory of ANDREWS. 11. 0. BERNARD, E. INGRAM. A. ROBERSON. E. wooliiof.se. cl Who gave their Lives in the Great. War lUI I - RMS. Erected by lAII Saints Institute. THE UNVEILING CEREMONY. SCHOOL AVAR MEMORIAL. After the (Imrch services, the parade re-assembled and headed bv the Band marched to the State School. Here a platform had been ere: ted close to the School War Memorial, which had been draped with the Union Jack. The Memorial itself is an ornate one. It is a grey granite, polished obelisk, lli feet high. Mauds on two lough granite slabs, with a cement foundation. On the sides of the memorial appear the names of 178 men and one nurse, ex-scholars oi the school who sored in the war. Shortly before noon the proceedings "ere opened by Mr W. 11. Shannon (ex-Chairman of the School Committed who had bee 11 deputed by the C mum it leo t■» early to a < nnclusk u the final i Cl’, many of which I’.’ had ' be*, ii a line, inp spin sitter it- inangii. j raiio.i. A; r Shannon stated they Imd 1 met t !:•.: day to unveil the Selim,i War 1 M; :a 5 to tin memory of those -,holj an. of lie: School who had served, and : of v bom seme 1 1 , I fall’ll in l lie b'ie var. lie read an a; oiopv I ram Ihe | lion. .1. O'immoud M.1.C., regretiing I liS iuahility to he pro'cut. The ‘ Old Hundredth" v.as then I sung hv iha e.-sv uihlage. the Rev. I*. ! !.;. Eraser read a psalm, a-id was to!- ! lotted I t a prayer by Rev. J. T. Jack. I THE SI*EEC. HES. 11l igaduT-Oeneial Alcldrum. C.M.G., J H. 5.0.. v. i ■ ■ was entrusted v illi the un- j veiling ceremony, then addressed thorn prestou. lie said lie felt very proud | at being asked to unveil the handsome Memorial that day. lie was proud to look on ihe names on the memorial, proud to hook on them as h.is own comrades. It was remarkable that one and, all Nett Zealanders who went to the war felt and recognised they wore comrades all. There were none who helped one another more than the New Zealanders who went to the war.

jpldicrs arc men of lev. words, and if he cculd invoke the spirit of one of tlu’.-e men, to honor whom they were present that day. lo speak, lie felt that in effect ii would he - ‘We did our hit. just as yen would line.dni’.e cud n't say a)iv more about it." The boys who gave their lives lor their country and Empire deserved to live for ever in the memory of New Zealanders. It was titling that their names should be engraved on the Atemorial to serve to keep green their loyalty and (good .-.on-ice. War is not yet ended. ■ As long as there is right and wrong, iiistii• and injustice, as long as tile ambitions of moil (lash, there trill be the danger of wav in the world, and the only thing to do is to he like those men whom they were lioiv ring that day and ho ready to In Id our o’, n a- those men did. Youth was ihe time when impressions were most- deeply made in our lives, and it was well for the boys and girls as they Mine to school, it; see ties monument, and to know and recognise all it: stood for. It should have untold effect on their future. The names of the moil on the memorial were these of men deserving of their best and warmest rec>l left ions. General Afeldrum recalled an incident of the Gallipoli fight, where the Now Zealanders had taken and held a post, at enormous cost, and still held on in spite of being almost decimated. The memory ,rf that incident and many others of that groat campaign, was not going to fade away. ITe was proud of the New Zealanders and of the great feats they had done. The boys of to-day are the same as the hoys ,if Dill, and would do their part if the call came. They were doing honor to the memory of those who fell. Those at the front knew the work they had to do, but the hardest thing to hear was the suspense of those left behind who did not know what was happening. and that had to be put up with by the parents and relations of these at the front. Before unveiling tlie memorial lie put it to tlw ll>ys and girls to remember that the nfen whom there were honoring were bra re men. They gave up their lives for their King and country. It was an example for them for the future. They must fit themselves so that they too would he able to equally do their duty if the need arises in defence of their King, their country and their homes.

General Alehlrum then unveiled the Memorial saying—‘‘To the Glory of God. and in honor of those, whose names are thorwn, f now unveil this .Memorial.”

A large number of handsome wreaths were then placed on the memorial. A collection was taken up for the memorial completion fund. The Band played “The Garland of Roses,” the Territorials saluted, and the National Anthem was played and sung.

Mr Tlios Irvine (Rector of Hokitika District High School) said as headmaster of the school ho had the pleasure in - accepting the trust on behalf

of tlu» SchJcol of the memorial just unveiled. He hoped to make the surroundings a beauty spot. A start had been made to this end, and when completed they should have a most attractive appearance. The monument unveiled was in honor of the bays who went to the war. To erect a stone is not all that is necessary. They must keep alive the memories that the stone is intended to remind us of. A headmaster he hoped to maintain that interest in the great deeds cur boys had done at the war. lie hoped to help to build up good citizens; he hoped they would not have 'to light, hut to make a name for themselves, for the vietlory of peace is far greater than that of war. When we go to war, win or lose, we lose, for the world is the poorer always by war. They should build well and give the boys and girls an opportunity to win a greater monument. For them there will he a greater monument—the life they have lived. Tf you want to build a monument, do something worthy, prepare to equip yeursedves for the battle of life which is a greater battle than any war can be. Mr G. A. Perry (Mayor of Hokitika) said the greater part of the assemblage that day had been scholars at the school, while those whose names appear on the monument had played and attended the school, and some of them had laid down their lives for the sake of the F.mpirc in which we live. Most of their parents came from Great Britain, and ir was no accident tln.t that country held sway on one-filth ol the world's surface. Tt was due to g.reat influence, great industry and

gleat courage. As the greatness of privilege increases so does the responsibility increase. Tt behoves us to see that thi' power held is wiselr used, and he felt that the world was the better for the British uiqui-bnoii ii power. British traditions are unequalled. and they had to remember today that the example these boys had

shown, were ones for those who came after to follow. Tt gave a sense of duty and responsibility in time of war or peace, to justify the value of Ktnpire. and to show that the sacrifice they had made had not been altogether in

Mr \i’m. .Tellries (County (haiimaii! expressed his pleasure at being able to represent the County on this occasion. It spoke well for the community that they have recognised that the names of those who gave their all in the great war had not been forgotten. He hoped in the long years to come that their services would he revered and honored. They all remembered the anxiety of mind that prevailed during the progress of the war. and these anxieties were increased at the time of the landing at Gallipoli—a great suspense to all concerned. I hey had gathered that day to honor these men, men it was an lionoi to know. Xu country in the world could have sent a liner body of men. thousands n! whom had consecrated the shores i.f Gallipoli with their blood. To the l.oys and girls presold he would ask them to remember. As time went on there is a tendency to forget the deeds which

t!»e:-c men liavo done, lie hoped thn! as long ns they had life they would mu forget the great sacrifice < f the • men. Their fathers and mother* who have been bereaved will have the consolation of knowing that their sen* toilght in a glorious cause and all should hear in mind that those men who had given such seivi-.es slmuld never stdl'er for having given of their very best in the cause of hiimf.nity, their King, their cumiLry and (hid. lion. 11. 1.. Michel AI.H.C .. said m this annivetsury day they inli-t reine> d cr that on this An/ale Day deed* were done that would live for ever. 'I here w .'ic 1711 hoyt and a girl's name on tin- monument. If the hoys ami giiK did not sc.- more than a an.mini, lit uii h name- mi if then it w ill he of little avail. As citizens of Uritain H'ey have many prvileges hut also they have muni duties to attend to. .May the monttn-ent in>;> ife the lots ideals of eit izeuship, I ite parent* c! \ these men wire pioneers of this! yt ting coitniri. They had the blond : of their forefat liefs. They lieaid the call of duly and had the cmirago m do it. May they always remain warm in the memory of the mu ion. He desired on behalf of the faiheis. and mothers to thank all assemliled and all a-s ieiaLeil iii the raising of this memorial. They should remember that those whom they were honoring had shown the higho. t i,|.-ids of citizenship, anil these who came alter them should preen re. and so lit themselves so that if the Kmi'ire calls again they will he prepared to do their duty as citizen- of a great limp ire. The Territorials then came to the salute, amt presented arms. Bugler It Css sounding “The Last Rost." '3 ho Xational Anthem played by the Baud cou'/lnded a verv interesting at remony. mtTHKIi TRIBUTES. The parade then formed up again, and headed by the Hand marched to Cass Square to tile site of the Cenotaph whore a number of wreaths were laid, the general appearance of the memorial and its vicinity being much admired for the well kept appearance. Here the Territorials lived three volleys, “The Last Post” was again sounded, and the Xational Anthem played. At-ain the parade moved on and a further stop was made at I lie Clock Tower in Weld Street, the memorial to those who served in the South Alriean war. The Territorials fired another three volleys “The Last Post" was sounded, the Xational Anthem was played, and several w.eaths laid on the monument. The parade then moved off to the Drill tilted where it was dismissed. AT THE PUBLIC LIBRARY. At the Public Library yesterday afternoon at 2 o'clock, there was an assembly for the purpose of deposit ing the unclaimed medals of two soldieis killed in action, whose nest of kin could not he discovered, hut whose birthplace was given ns Hokitika. The Mayor (Air I’erry) presided, and Crs. ■ Uovil and McGregor were present, also t the Town Clerk (Mr Andrewes). The Returned Soldiers paraded, and there t was a considerable gathering of the public. The .Mayor said the Borough \ Council had been asked by the Defence < Department to take charge of the war - medals of AVilliam Joseph Ross, and t Joseph Kirk, two soldiers who had j been killed in action, but whose relatives or next of kin could not be traced, r The Council bail had the trophies e framed, and ir was proposed to deposit I them in the Magazine Room of the u Public Library. This was then done, the medals and scrolls being enclosed oi a handsome frame. Three medals f; (iuvluding Gallipoli) were awarded to w Ross, mid two medals to Kirk. 1 Mr !• ,J. Evans on behalf of the ei Returned Soldiers, tlmiiked the Govern- n nient for tilt thoughtful consideration £ in ibis matter and the Mayor and h Council for having the trophies so suit- r< ably prepared for perm an cut exliibi- a< tion. The place of deposit was a H able one also, and all eon, erned would ? he grateful for the action taken. As ii both men had died on active service. t< and were natives of the district, stops <1 would he taken to have Heir names p 1 engraved in the Cenotaph on Cass o Square. Air Evans again thanked the l« Mayor and Council for the very corn- w plete wav in which the wishes of the X Government had been earned out.

AT THE CEMETERY. Subsequent to the proceedings at the Public Library, the Returned Men fell

ii ntia marched t:» the puhl::- come- | cry. whole wreaths prepared by Afes- ' .amts Morgan n j jjutland. were dcositod on a iiumhts <■ s f eiav<s ot f■ i‘ini' romrades find "Tt> u-nrkers. The i allowing graves "ere Wited rnd [ rroaths respectfully doj-isited: raises Davies. Dixon, Matron t.ittle. Irs Evans: Messrs Hateli. Hal!ig. u . tkin. Winchester, Glass, St, George. | in the memorial stone to C!. Spence | tilled in the South African war) a » rentli was deposited also.