COUNTRY NEWS

Southland Times, Issue 18855, 22 June 1920, Page 7

COUNTRY NEWS

(From Our Own Correspondent.) ORETI. ROLL OF HONOUR UNVEILED. A large gathering of adults and children assembled in the Oreti School on 1* riday afternoon to take part in the ceremony of unveiling the School Roll of Honour. The chairman of the Committee (Mr T. R. McLean), presided, and said they regarded the present as a very important occasion. In the great war, now happily ended, New Zealand boys had taken a prominent part and had victory not come to the Allies’ side, the Dominions and every other part of the British Empire would have been under the yoke of German rule. It would have been a sad day for all. How thankful then should they be that victory rested with our forces. The chairman then on Mr P. de la Perrelle (acting chairman of the Education Board), to unveil the Roll of Honour. In doing so, Mr Perelle said Oreti, like every other district, had done splendidly in money, kind, and men. Thirty-eight stalwart sons of the district had gone forward to fight for their King and Country. Of this number eleven brave boys had made the supreme sacrifice. The speaker thought there could be no better form of recognition than a school roll of honour. The adult portion of the community knew only too well of the gallant deeds of our soldiers, but it required something of a prominent and lasting nature to impress upon the young how much they owed to the brave men who went forward and fought so valiantly and successfully in the course of right and justice. The 25th of April last marked the fifth anniversary of the day when the New Zealanders and Australians won imperishable renown by storming and winning the heights that frown the Aegean Sea. nor did their magnificent achievements end there. In France and Egypt they won undying fame for heroism and discipline. As to the dead who people the silent slopes of far-off Gallipoli or whose remains rest in France and Flanders, It matters not where heroes sleep, Above or beneath the sod; Their bones may bleach in the rain and the sun, But their souls are at peace with God. Those who lost dear ones had one great consolation; that their sons, brothers and ; husbands died as they would have wished, fighting for a noble cause. Mr Perrelle then unveiled the Roll of Honour. Mr Adam Hamilton, M.P., said he desired to thank the Oreti folk for giving him the opportunity of being present at the unveiling ceremony. The Roll of Honour itself was a magnificent piece of work, but its magnificence lay in a far more important direction: it would ever be a reminder to the boys and girls of the great debt of I gratitude they owed to the soldiers of their district, and soldiers of the Dominions and | overseas. It was a debt that could never j be repaid, and he urged them that whenever they passed the Roll of Honour they would raise their hats or bow their heads I as a silent tribute to those who had done | so much for them. "Remember,” remarked 1 Mr Hamilton to the children, “It Ls a great privilege to live under the grand old fiag. Stick up for your district, stick up for your Dominion, ami should you ever cross the ocean, always stick up for the British Empire.” Mr T. Walker (Mayor of Wintonl, also expressed his indebtedness to the committee for giving him the opportunity of taking part at the important function, A great and glorious heritage had been passed on ; to them. They lived under the flag which ; gave freedom and liberty, and which always i stood out for right against might. The : splendid service given by our soldiers in : the various theatres of the war would ever i remain green in the memories of adults, and : he agreed with the other sjxnikcrs that no ; better form of a memorial could he erected | than a Roll of Honour in the schools. Hourly | and daily the children had before them the j mimes of those of their districts who had ! served their country so heroically and so i nobly in the greatest war of all ages. He was delighted to see the men who had been spared to return taking up their several avocations and following once more in the I citizenship) of this part of the Empire. To , the residents of those who had fallen the j deepest sympathy was extended. | The Rev. A. McNeur engaged in solemn j prayer, and before the “Last Post” was i sounded by Sergt.-Major Summers, lit tie j Miss Sutherland placed a wreath at the foot of the memorial as a silent tribute to the 1 memory of those who will never return. After the ceremony the Oreti ladies dipensed afternoon tea. PUKEAREHE. Last Wednesday evening a very pdeasant function which took the form of a "kitchen evening,” was given in honour of Mr and Mrs Arthur Wilson, who were recently mari ried. The gathering, which was very repre--1 tentative, took place in the Fukearuhe Hall. ! Mr R. J. Anderson, of Kaua.ua, took the chair, and in a very humorous speech spoke of the excellent qualities of Mr Wilson, and his bride. Mr Wil-on was a true Aberdonian, with all the characteristics of a Scot. The fine array of useful articles on the I platform, said Mr Anderson, was evidence of the esteem and popularity of ?>lr and Mrs Wilson. Mr A nderson also alluded to Mr ami Mrs Wilson’s fine war work. Mr McNaught. of Centre Bush, and Mr O’Brien, of Benmore, also spoke in very high terms of the guests of the evening. During the evening songs were given by Mrs G. Matthews, Mr J. Wilson, ami ?<lr Lawrcnre. Excellent music was provided by Mrs W. Cowie, Mr Lee. and Miss Casey. The, ladies of the district provided a firstclass supper, after which the young folk j indulged in dancing for a couple of hours, I Mr A, Morrison acting as M.C. I MANDEVILLE. I , . j We have experienced an unusually mild three weeks for this time of the year. The j land is dry and sheep on turnips hat e been I fining splendidly. Although the turnip) j crops about here are not particularly good, j through the favourable weather conditions j large drafts of fats have been general and j Messrs W. Fortune and R. Crombio have I just got off all their lambs as well as a | largo proportion of their wethers. Old ewes, too, have done well, so the future winter : feed supply in consequence is very much brighter than at one time appeared. Our little township) is not behind in the matter of amusements for the winter even- : iugs. A committee of young ladies and ' gentlemen under the title of “Mandeville | Amusements Committee” are providing a varied programme fortnightly and it is grati- : fying to be able to announce that their en- : deavours are meeting with encouraging sue i cess. | . Oa Thursday evening bust a farewell social evening was tendered to Mr and Mrs George I Friend and family in the hall prior to their j departure from the district. There was a large attendance of district and distant friends. Mr H. W. C. Horrell presided and [ on behalf of the district presented Mr Friend, senr., with a handsome case of pipes anti also handed to him on behalf of his son (who was unavoidably absent) a safety razor and to Mrs Friend a silver tea pot. Miss Kate Wayte, on behalf of young lady friends, presented the Misses Friend with a j silver manicure set each. Mr Friend suitably returned thanks and assured everyone present that they would be pleased to welcome them in their new home near Balfour. Messrs J. H. McLeod, James Bruce, M. Roche, W. Fortune and Syd. Horrell each spoke testifying to the good qualities of the departing guests and wis-hing them every success in their new home. The following contributed towards the evening’s amusement: —Mrs J. H. McLeod, Misses Carter, Crombie, Sheed, Stephens, Wayte (2), Thomas Green, J. Knowles, G. Carter and S. Horrell. Mr and Mrs Knowles had charge of the tea arrangements which, as usual, gave every satisfaction. It is with deep regret that I mention the death of Mr Peter McLeod, junr., at Islay Downs, Palmerston South. He was the youngest son of Mr Peter McLeod, of “Wantwood,” Mandeville and Islay Downs

stations. As the news only came through by wire on Saturday particulars to hand are very brief, but it is understood that death resulted from an attack of influenza. Mr McLeod was a young man and well and favourably known in this district and much sympathy will be extended to his aged father and also to his two brothers, Messrs John and William McLeod, who reside here, and his two sisters, Mrs Pollock (Gore), and Mrs J. 0. Dickson (Otamat as well as to his brother, Mr Thomas McLeod, and two sisters (Misses Kate and Minnie McLeod), of Palmerston South. Our school attendance has been considerably lowered of late through the prevalence of sickness of various kinds. Mr and Mrs Charles Mill have just returned from a trip to the North Island and intend tu settle among us.