MANUREWA MEMORIAL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 597, 7 January 1921, Page 4

MANUREWA MEMORIAL.

TO FALLEN SOLDIERS. UNVEILING CEREMONY PERFORMED BY MINISTER. On Sunday afternoon an impressive and interesting event took place at Manurewa, when the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. W. F. Massey) unveiled the war memorial erected at the corner of Great South and Hill _ Roads. The monument, a granite obelisk, was erected by public subscription and voluntary effort. On it are engraved the names of the campaigns in which the New Zealanders took part, and of the 29 men of the district who make the supreme sacrifice. On the base are the texts: “ Greater love hath no man” and “Their names liveth for everjnore.” After the opening exercises had taken place, Mr. Massey said they had come to do honour to the gallant men who had given their lives that their fellow citizens might live in freedom and independence. All hoped that the period of peace would last for’, a long time. The further away from the war the clearer the perspective, and to him it was apparent that He who watched over Israel, and neither slumbered nor slept, watched over the nation now. Mr. Massey outlined the many critical stages’ of the war and the anxiety attendant on those times when the Dominion had the honour of sending men to help stem tlm tide of German advance, and finally thrust back the enemy, until, broken and demoralised, they asked for an armistice, which virtually meant the conclusion of the war. Referring to Gallipoli, he said that although historians might call it a failure, still the deeds performed by the Dominion’s troops in that short fierce campaign had never been excelled and seldom equalled. He was glad to say that the British Graves Commission, with efficient organisation and funds, had taken over the graves of New Zealanders, and they would be cared for in a fitting manner. The British Prime Minister had recently —at a public function in England—expressed admiration of the work of the New Zealand troops, and the patijotism of their people. There had not been a great fight on land or sea at which New Zealand ’had not been well represented. After congratulating the people on the spirit which resulted' in the erection of the memorial, Mr. Massey pulled the cord, and the New Zealand ensign fluttered down, leaving the obelisk shining in the sunshine.