ANZAC DAY.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 April 1926, Page 1

ANZAC DAY.

CELEBRATION AT HOKITIKA. Yesterday morning broke cloudy and threatening hut the sun came out and the weather was fine and sunny for the celebrations in the town. The .Military Church parade moved off promptly at 10 o’clock from the Drill Hall, the -Municipal Band under Conductor C. .Ross heading the procession and playing a number of excellent marches and later effectively taking part in tho memorial service. There was a capital muster on parade which was in charge of Lieutenant E. B. Ferguson. The Territorials who formed the firing party, totalled 33 strong, then, came the Returned Soldiers 32, Senior Cadets 3G, and Junior Cadets 40, the whole making an imposing display, easily tho best for a number of years past. The parade marched to the various churches where suitable services were held.

On reassembling, the parade, attend, cd by a large number of onlookers marched to the State School, where wreaths were placed on the School War .Memorial, three volleys were fired and Bugler Boss sounded “The East Post.” The parade then marched to Cass Square, where there was a large assemblage present. The Cenotaph with its well cut grass surroundings was the centre of the proceedings and on its base were placed a large number of wreaths. ■

The Memorial Service was opened by the Municipal Band playing the Dead March, which was followed by the National Anthem. .The Mayor (Mr G. A. Perry) made tho opening address rclerring in leeling and stirring terms to the cans** oi the dav's and what if. meant to the Empire with feeling references to the relatives oi the men who had laid clown their.lives for King and Country. The Rev. P. U. Fraser then delivered an impressive prayer. Mr T. R. Chesterman (Westland County Chairman) who stated lie had been a member of the South Airican war contingent referred to the many hardships which the men had undergone. They had done their duty right well and nobly, and deserved the very best thoughts and remembrance of those who came alter them.

The Hon. IT. L. Michel. M.L.C.. made a stirring address to the gallant deeds of tho men of Anzae, with special references ot condolence to the 1 relatives of those who had laid down their lives in the field of battle for the cause of Empire.

Tho hymn “Lord Thou Hast been Our Refuge” was then sung. The Rev. G. Kuowles-Smith, the next speaker, in his opening remarks expressed his pleasure that his first public appearance in the town should U' the occasion of the commemoration of such a memorable day. Himself a padre, lie went on to speak in forcible and feeling terms of that great soldier tho English Tommy. His love oi country. and his readiness to share his lasL crust or cigarette butt with his “cobber,” a term that fully expressed the great levelling friendship that the war had brought about. The speaker expressed the very high ideals of lho soldiers, their love of country and belief in the God above and concluded a telling address by expressing >no hopes that these ideals would be realised. thereby solving the difficulties that the world was suffering under today.

Tho Firing Parly then fired three Volleys, and Bugler Ross sounded “The Last Post.” Tho National Anthem played hv ihc Hand concluded the service. AT THE CLOCK TOWER. After the Cass Square service, the parade marched to the South African War Memorial, the Clock lower, at the intersection ol Meld and Sewell Streets. Here a number oT wreaths wore placed on the memorial and the Firing Party fired three volleys, the bugler sounding the “The hast, Post. Tho parade then marched hack to the Drill Hall where the members were dismissed. AT THE CEMETERY. In the afternoon at 2.15 p.m. the Returned Soldiers, 32 strong, marched in n body from the Pioneers Memorial to the Cemetery where wreaths were placed on the graves of the soldiers who are at rest there. Later the men returned to the Soldiers’ Hall where they were entertained at afternoon tea. kindly arranged by Mesdames Appleton and Stuart. The Rev. G. Kuowles-Smith presided, apologising for the absence ol the Mayor and Yresident, the latter being in South Westland.

AT GREYMOFTH. GREYMOUTH, April 20. The observance of Anzae Day in Groymout’h. yesterday was on similar lines to that of previous anniversaries. The various services in the Churches in the town were in the nature ol Memorial Services. At St. Patricks Church, a parade of Territorials and Cadets was held ill the morning, when Mass was celebrated at 10 o’clock lor all the fallen soldiers. At Cobcleu a service was held at the State School, where a memorial board commemorating the names of ex-members of tl«school who served during the war was unveiled before a large gatliei isg hv Mr T. Hornsby, lit the- afternoon, a procession comprising the Municipal Band, a body of Returned Soldiers, and Territorials marched from the Rand Rotunda, via Boundary Street, Mawhera Quay, and Taimn Street, to the Opera House, where a combined denominational service was held. I lie procession, which was under the command of Brigadier-General W. Afeldium, CAI.C., C. 8., then proceeded to the Cenotaph, where wreaths were laid at the base. The Territorials then marched to tlie Drill Shed, while a number of persons proceeded to Karoro where wreaths were placed on the graves of Nurses and Returned Soldiers at the Cemetery.

AT WESTPORT. WESTPORT. April 25. Anzae Day services were conducted in the Theatre Royal this afternoon by the Ministers’ Association. The Mayor, Mr John Menzies, presided. An impressive address was given ny Rev. O. Burnett. (Methodist). The hand, returned soldiers, territorials, cadets, firing party and Technical School pupils attended, and subsequently went in procession to the memorial gates at the entrance to Victoria Square, where a dedication service was held. Many beautiful wreaths were laid at the entrance to the gates and on the South African Memorial inside the Square. AT CHRISTCHURCH. CHRISTCHURCH, April 25. Anzae Day was celebrated in Christchurch with a parade, procession and service in King Edward’s Barracks at which troops and returned men attended.

The Mayor, the Rev. .1. K. Archer, presided, and an adress was delivered by Hon. Isitt-, M.L.C. Wreaths were placed on the' Bridge of Remembrance, and at the Cathedral. The Flying Corps’ tribute was a wreath dropped from an aeroplane which flew low over tho city. Special services were held in all the churches. AT OAMARU. • OAMAIIU. April 25. Excellent weather prevailed for Anzae Day Commemoration service and tho unveiling of a .war memorial here to-day, when a huge crowd of between four and five thousand assembled at the Memorial, which was unveiled by Lieut.-Colonel J. Hargest, D. 5.0.. M.C., (Invercargill), who delivered an appropriate address. AT WELLINGTON. WELLINGTON, April 25. Tho ceremonies in connection with Anzae Day were more elaborate than usual, and provided one of tho mostimpressive and spectacular sights ever witnessed in the city. In the morning, veterans of the South African and other wars, returned soldiers, sailors from the Diomede and Dunedin, and thousands of civilians attended a temporary cenotaph erected on a grass plot presented by the Government for a permanent memorial vet to he erected, where most impressive,- touching scones, were witnessed, hundreds of beautiful floral emblems being deposited at the foot of the cenotaph until there was a huge pile some feet in height. Mr Coates, on behalf of the Government laid a beautiful wreath on tho green sward, nearby, wore a few handfuls of flowers brought by mothers and relatives ot those who made the supreme sacrifice. Til tho afternoon a service, to which next-of-kin were specially invited, was hold in the Town Hall, thousands being present, and many being imablo to gain admission. Canon Fieldon Taylor, who is held in the highest esteem by returned men, by request, conducted the services, and delivered an eloquent speech, and a message of solace Lo the bereaved. Later a great parade of Imperial troops, sailors from warships, garrison artillery and the territorials, and cadets ot the whole district attended a combined service at the Basin Reserve, where many thousands congregated. A general salute and short speeches were given, and at the conclusion of the service, troops marched through the city, which had never seen such an imposing sight lor many years. Ihe weather was line, and thousands lined the route of the march through the city to the cenotaph, where a formal march past took place. It. was one ol the greatest gatherings here for many years, and will live long in the memory of those witnessing it. AUCK LA N 1) SERAM CES. AUCKLAND. April 25.

A great crowd assembled in the city this afternoon for the principal Anzae Day Service in the Town Hall, which was preceded by a procession of returned soldiers. Tho GovernorGeneral, Sir Charles Forgusson, took part in the service, reading the Lesson. Addresses were given by Archbishop) Averill and Bov. B. S. Matsoil. M.C., a prayer being offered b\ Bov. G. Stubbs (Chaplain of the New Zealand Squadron). After the service wreaths were placed on the cenotaph outside, the Town Hall by the Gover-nor-General and many others. Various services were also 'held in flic subuibs and at military cemeteries. AT SYDNEY. SYDNEY, April 25. Although Anzae Day will be a. public holiday to-morrow, all the flags on the public buildings to-day are halfmasted, and .suitable addresses were de_ livered in all the churches. IMPRESSIVE SYDNEY MARCH. SYDNEY, April 25. Anzae Day was commemorated by a march of all arms of the service and police through the city streets to tho Town Hall where a service was held. The Governor-General and other notables were present. The march, which was most impressive was witnessed by great crowds. Over four thousand were present at the Town Hall where addresses by tho heads of tho different denominations evoked many moving scenes. AT BLENHEIM. BLENHEIM. April 20. Anzae Day was celebrated here with more than usual impressiveness. ’I he customary united memorial service was attended by a huge crowd, following which the foundation stone of the provincial war memorial was laid by the Mayor, Mr McKenzie. A ceremonial march past of five hundred mounted mud infantry took place. Adjutant-General Colonel Smyth c was the principal speaker at the Anzae Coiiccrl. when the theatre was packed. AT NEW PLYMOUTH. NEW PLYMOUTH. April 20. Anzae Day proved to he the largest and most impressive demonstration yet held. The crowd in the park numbered nine or ten thousand, including 2.150 on parade, of whom nearly 500 were territorials, 200 were returned men and veterans, fiOO cadets, 80 hoy scouts and three hands. During the morning wreaths were laid on soldiers graves in the cemetery and also on Maori War victims’ graves and on the graves of two American sailors who were drowned at Moturoa a few years ago.

NEW ZEALAND’S LOYALTY. (Received this day at 9.0 n.m.) LONDON, April 25. Sir James Allen in an address at the cemetery at Wilton, saicl no part ol the Empire was more loyal to the Flag, King and Constitution, than New Zealand. Other parts were stronger, but they could hope that the time would never come when there would be disunion, but all would pull together in the interests of peace and righteousness. AT THE CENOTAPH, LONDON. LONDON, April 26. Lady Allen laid a wreath encased in ice. on the Cenotaph, on behalf of the mothers of deceased soldiers of Auckland, a number of whom have now visited Great Britain. A card attached bore the words: “They live who died that wo migh live.”. Later. Sir James and Lady Allen visited the cemeteries at Walton and Brookwood, and lay wreaths in memory of New Zealand soldiers buried there.