ANZAC DAY.

Matamata Record, Volume III, Issue 130, 1 May 1919, Page 2

ANZAC DAY.

Matamata Public Meeting Anzac Day was celebrated at Matamata last week, by a public meeting convened by the Town board. There was a large attendance of residents. Among tlioso present was the chairman of the Town board, Mr J. Price, who was really too ill to conduct the meeting or speak, and who had deputed Mr J. F. Vosper, to act for him. Interspersed with tho addresses wero the hymns “Onward Christian Soldiers,” “ CLGod Our Help ” and “ Rock of Ages.” The meeting opened and closed with the National Anthem. Mr J. F. Vosper, who acted as chairman, said the residents had met to celebrate Anzac day the day when the Australasian troops did so much towards liberating humanity from the clutches of an evil menace. Ho said that forever this day would live in the minds of all people. He trusted that in future years Anzac day would not bo a day alone, but would have incorporated with it, the great Peace day, thus making it a full thanksgiving daythanksgiving to God and to those who had given their lives towards securing a great peace. Rev. R. W. Jackson, in referring to the Gallipoli campaign said it was one of the most remarkable that had taken j place in the World’s history. The boys went forward and did some of the grandest deeds in history. Only about half of them survived the landing. Tho death roll was enormous, and the whole campaign was appalling. From all parts of the Empire men had fought — why ? because they wore on the side of Right. And, it was great to know that no higher praise had been bestowed, by the great generals, on any body of men than on New Zealanders. Their deeds had brought forth the admiration of all countries interested in the great war. They could have shown no greater heroism, and that was why New Zealand was so proud of the soldiers she sent for King and Country. The landing at Gallipoli was a great feat, and the particular campaign was brilliantly concluded by a successful evacuation.

Mr J. W. Simpson was the next speaker, representing the Matamata A. and P. Association. He said he wished to apologise for the absence of Mr H. Rollett, president of the Matamata branch of the Farmers’ Union. Referring to the Anzac day celebration Mr Simpson spoke of the manner in which the farmers of the country appreciated the great sacrifices of New Zealand’s sons throughout the campaign. They, with the other sections of the community, regretted that these sacrifices had ever been called for, but tempered with that regret was a great degree of joy and thankfulness in that there were many who were spared to got off the Peninsula. It might easily have been that none could have returned from that great adventure, but, thank God, they had men with them who had survived, gone on, and fought for the Great Cause, and were with them that afternoon, to mourn the loss of comrades.

The Rev. Jefferson said the soldiers on that April 25th, 1915, had been called upon to do an impossible task, and had succeeded in accomplishing it. That statement seemed strange, but was true. It took that task to show the world what men New Zealand was producing. The latter had shown their grit and determination from the commencement, by affecting a landing, and by maintaining and advancing their positions. The evacution was also a marvellous feat in which not a man was lost. Those left in New Zealand could never forget theso glorious deeds and those who perpetrated them. The celebration that day was a much triore joyful affair that that of the previous year, in-as-much as the great Peace h >d practically come. They, however, f n de- ply and sympathised with those who had given sons to the cause and were thankful to God for the return of the other many men. The gathering extended a warm hand of welcome to the returned soldiers and wished them future prosperity. The great work of all in tho future was to spread the knowledge of the love of Jesus Christ throughout the world. In the past the nations had been too apt to forget the Great God. To ensure the abolition of great wars they had now to face the real facts of life and the great Eternity. The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks to tho chairman.