WELLINGTON TRIBUTE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 207, 26 April 1932, Page 5

WELLINGTON TRIBUTE

(Press. Assn.—

THOUSANDS PRESENT AT INAUGURATION OF CARXLLON OPENED BY LORD BLEDISLOE

-By Telegraph — Copyright).

WELLINGTON, Monday. The usual Anzac Day observances in Wellington were marked by an historic ceremony at Mount Cook, when in the afternoon the National War Memorial Carillon was dedicated and opened by the Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, after being consecrated by the Bishop of Wellington, Bishop Sprott. The ceremony was attended by thousands and every vantage po'nt in the city and on the nearby hills was occupied. There was a monster parade of returned soldiers and military and naval units. The carillon was formally handed over by Mr. H. D. Bennett, chairman of the Carillon Society, and was accepted on behalf of the people of New Zealand by the Governor-General, who lit the perpetual memorial lantem and gave the signal for the playing of the Nat'onal Anthem on the bells. The vast audience was hushed as the melodious music rang from the eampanile. Later the carilloneur, Mr. Cbfiord E. Ball, of Bourneville, England, accompanied the singing of the hymn, "O God Our Help in Ages Past." The Mayor, Mr. C. A. Hislop, presided during the ceremony and the Prime Mmister, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, was among the spectators. In the evening the carillon recital was attended by a large audience and the soft music of the bells drif fcid over tho city, borne on a southerly breeze. Memorial Service The customary Anzac Day service attended by returned soldiers and their next of kin took place at the Wellington Citizens' Memorial in the morning. The Governor-General road the King's message. A short service was held and wreaths from. citizens and various organisations were placed on the base of the memorial. The wreaths inelude a magnificent one from the Australian Society of New Zealand, in the form of a huge map of Australia.