“LEST WE FORGET.”

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIII, Issue 28, 30 May 1912, Page 5

“LEST WE FORGET.”

UNVEILING OF OLD SOLDIERS’

MEMORIALS

THE PREMIER AT NORMANDY

It is nearly fifty years ago since Normanby witnessed the stirring

scenes created by the open rebellion of the fighting Moari chief Titikowara; > many fierce battles were fought and many men were slain. The little Waihi cemetery, just two miles from the township of Normanby, was then a military camp. A few yards from its deep entrenchments lie the graves of sixteen of the men who died fighting for their country; the bravo Von Tempsky, and the heroes who fought and fell by his side, have no earthly resting place their ashes being scattered to the four winds when their bod er, were burned by the natives of Te-Ngutu-o-te-Manu. Yesterday the memory of those days was revived, when, after years of struggling and agitation, the Normanby Town Board, and a few of the patriots of the district, notably Mr. John Finlay, achieved their desire in the unveiling of a cairn at Waihi Cemetery, and of a handsome monument in Victoria Park. The ceremony was performed by the Prime Minister, the Hon. T. Mackenzie, in the presence of a large number of settlers, and representatives 'of local bodies throughout the province. The Premier arrived at Normanby at 11.30. He had left Palmerston North at the same time the day before, motored to Wanganui, which ho reached at 2.30, and had boon travelling by rail since 7.20 that morning. Normanby people appreciated the trouble the Premier had taken to ho present, and ho was given a hearty welcome.

Beforg the procession, headed by the Wanganui Highland Pipe Band, and the Hawera Band, loft for the Waihi Cemetery, a light luncheon was partaken of at the Town Hall. In replying to the toast of the “Parliament of New Zealand,” the Premier apologised for the absence of his colleague, the Hon. Mr. Myers, Minister of Defence, whom, he knew, would have very much wished to be present. Kef erring to the words spoken by one of the many veterans present, ho said that lie had listened to them with feelings of pain and of pleasure. The acts of the veteran’s comrades had not passed from memory, and the voice that spoke oi them was full of pathos and feeling. Mr. Mackenzie said he remembered the days of which the old soldier luv. spoken. At that time he was a ho; in Otago, and all in that district wore extremely thankful they were not living in this turbulent district. He paid a hearty tribute to the “hardy settlers” of Taranaki, remarking that it was not till they, assisted by the armed constabulary, took the matter in hand, that the war was brought to a conclusion. Pursuing, he said

that it was his intention to invostiIgato the Cases of the veterans, and would see that justice was done i

those old soldiers, who were surely entitled to justice. A speaker had alluded to the shirking of military responsibilities, and Mr. Mackenzie replied that, so far, they had not been greatly troubled by shirkers in the great defence movement. He reminded his hearers that there were some real “conscientious objectors”—mem-

bers of the Society of Friends, for instance. These were quite willing to do some form of service other than actual lighting, and he was quite sure that when Parliament met something r would be done to meet their conscientious objections. But where men deliberately evaded the duty they owed to their country, the Government would put down their feet in such a manner as would make those men understand. “I have received,” the Premier went on to say, “some very queer placards, containing some very great threats, threatening to annihilate me. They come from Christchurch. I replied, ‘Why not put alongside of these placards,” poor contemptible New Zealanders, who have not courage to train and defend the land in which they live?” ’ I say it would be very much better if that type of men would leave the country. We don’t want them. If they are not prepared to abide by the laws of a community, let them leave that community; they arc under no obligation, to stay here; they enjoy all our privileges—privileges, equal to, if not better than, those offered by any other country—and then wish ns lo idly stand by, and sec these fair lands tak-

on from ns. We are not arming in order to become a menace to other coun-

tries; we arc arming in order to keep this beautiful country of ours for people of the same civilisation as ourselves. We express our heartfelt gratitude to the people of this country for the great response they have made to this system of military training. They have done worthily, and we arc getting all the men we require. But that does not mean that those worthless fellows will be 'allowed to escape.” (Applause.) Other speakers were the Chairman (Mr. C. Davies, Chairman of the Normanby Town Board), Messrs. Finlay, Rowe, Beamish, Hislop, Flynn, Foreman,. Mitchell, Smedley, and Davies.

Unveiling the Cairn. By the time tho procession arrived at the Cemetery, rain was falling heavily, and the ceremony was to a certain extent cut short. After the sing ng of the hymn, “Oh, God Our Help in Ages Past,” prayer was offered up by tho Rev. W. A. Burley, M.A., this being followed by the reading of the 90th Psalm, by the Rev. D. N. McKenzie. Then came an address'by the Rev. D. N. Haddon. It was an eloquent speech, typical of the Maori orator. They were there, he said, in tho spirit of a tangi. In 1840 had been signed the Treaty of ty'aitangi, which had transferred this country and the Maori people to the Dominion of the British Queen. Five years after, war broke out, and that day they mourned for those who had fallen. Ho claimed that neither side were fighting for Queen or for country—they fought against tho wrongs that were done in those early days. Those wrongs were the Sole cause of bloodshed. He held

up in his hand, a copy of the famous Treaty of Waibangi, and exclaimed that those wrongs done the Maori had not yob been righted. He. spoke- of the chiefs who had remained loyal to their Queen, despite all wrongs, and had fought side by side with the white man against the men of their own blood. “I have in my veins,” he continued, “the blood of both races—MaoV, ri and Pakeha. I have the same tangi for the Maori—the same tangi for the Pakeha. Hero, to-day, let the two peoples be cemented much closer than they have been in the past. In your Parliament draw tip a new treaty, binding together the Maori and the Pakeha. May all of us join in the same sympathy to those who have 'gone by. Wo have feeling towards our own. Bloodshed on one side—bloodshed on the other side. The same sadness, the same thought, the same sympathy for both sides.” A short address was also given by Archdeacon Haddon. Mr. Felix McGuire then welcomed the Prime Minister, and asked him to

unveil the monument, .the cairn is constructed of rough boulders, cemented together, and stands about 10ft. high. Iwo marble panel tablets contain the names of the men whose graves are clustered around the memorial. Later on, the cairn will be enclosed by a cast-iron railing mounted on concrete and paster pillars, each side being fifty-six feet in length. “Tilis is indeed a solemn occasion,” said the Premier, in bis address, “and I think that the right note has been struck by our friend the Rev. Haddon, and that was ably seconded by the subsequent speaker .We are noc here to-day lo be other than present at a tangi. The dead past is gone; the conflict is past, and the two races are now united.” The Arcmleacon, lie said, had alluded lo our lack of knowledge, and imperfect treatment of the native race in those early days. “My sympathy,” pursued the speaker, “has always gone out to the native races.” He referred to the incident of the so-called Wairau Massacre, which, from the historian’s point of view, was a fair fight; if there was any favour it was towards the Europeans rather than the other side. “The suggestion has been made,” pursued the" Premier,” that a new treaty should now be formed cementing and binding the races closer than theyhave been brought together during recent years. I can assure the Rev. Haddon, and those who are gathered together here, that nothing will be lacking on the part of the Government to bring about so desirable a consummation.” Referring to the fallen men, the speaker said that in the presence of men—their noble comrades—they hallowed their memories and admired their deeds. They were glad to have in their midst, men who did such noble work. But they must not forget the noble enemy. Those men who were fighting for what they believed to be as worthy a cause as that possessed by those, who were lighting against them..

The band then played the Dead March, and following this came the strains of the Dirge played hy the pipers. The ceremony concluded uith the “Last Pest.” sounded by the Cadet Bugle Band. The party then returned through the township to Victoria where the other memorial is erected. The monument is an imposing four-sided structure with a gabled cap, surmounted by a carved urn. This stands on three concrete bases, three feet from the ground. On the four sides are the names of some fifty sojdierr- who fell in the Maori War. On the front face there is a device of helmet and crossed swords inlaid in lead. The whole of the. money necessary for this structure was subscribed by rcs : dents of Norbanby, £2O of that, sum having been generously donated by Mr. Thomas Robson, one of the oldest set tiers in the district. Both memorials have borne Government subsidies.

The unveiling ceremony was a simple one, the Premier speaking a fey words as ho pulled the strings which let fall the flags, covering the tablets. “Last Post” was again sounded. Subsequently the Premier opened the Normanby Horticultural Society’s Show, held in their buildings opposite tho Town Hall.