SECOND ANNIVERSARY OF THE WAR.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 10 August 1916, Page 3

SECOND ANNIVERSARY OF THE WAR.

MEETINGS AND SERVICES

THE Helensville arrangements for the celebration of the second anniversary of the declaration of war with Germany, were carried out successfully on Friday last, 4th inst.

At St. Matthew's Church Holy Communion was celebrated at 7 a.m., and at 10.30 a.m. a thanksgiving service, with holy communion was held. In the evening at. 7 p.m. there was an intercessary and thanksgiving service, when the Rev. C. J. Merton delivered a most impressive address on the subject of the present war, to a large congregation.

There was a service of intercession (prayer and meditation) at 1 p.m., in Stewart's Theatre, conducted by the Rev. L. J. Hodson (Presbyterian Minister), when a good number of the public attended.

A public meeting was held at 8 p.m. in the Star Theatre, called by the Chairman of the Helensville Town Board (Mr E.T. Field) for the purpose of expressing the inflexible determination of the people to continue the war to a victorious end. Mr Field occupied the chair, and there was a large gathering of the public present. After explaining the reasons for calling the meeting, the Chairman read the following circular from the Prime Minister, Wellington : —

Sir, —On behalf of the Government of this Dominion I have the honour to request that on Friday, 4th August next' the second anniversary of the Declaration of the War with Germany, you -will-call a meeting of the citizens of your Town District, and submit to that meeting the attached resolution of determination to continue the War to a victorious end. The same resolution will be submitted to public meetings throughout the rest of the Empire.

At this stage, when the struggle is approaching its crisis, I need not elaborate to you the necessity for the whole of the King's D.ominions presenting a united front. Sufficient to say that the passing of the, resolution by meetings held in every city, borough, county, town district, and road district in this Dominion will indicate that New Zealand, whose sons have, since the first anniversary, been given the opportunity they so'eagerly craved of taking their place with our Allies in the main theatre of war, is at one with the other units of the Empire in the determination to maintain those ideals of liberty and justice, which, as the resolution truly states, are the common and sacred cause of the Allies.

The following resolution was then proposed by Mr T. Elliott, seconded by Mr R. Nicholls— That, on this the second anniversary of a righteous war, this meeting of the citizens of Helensville records its inflexible determination to continue tq a victorious end the struggle : in, maintenance of those ideals 'of Liberty and Justice which are the common and sacred cause of the Allies. —'Carried unanimous-1 ly.

The meeting closed by singing the National Anthem, the Rev, C. J. Merton supplying the music.