WREATHS OF LAUREL

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 956, 26 April 1930, Page 9

WREATHS OF LAUREL

CEREMONIES AT SOLDIERS’ CEMETERIES COLLEGE OBSERVANCES Each soldier’s grave at Waikumete Cemetery was provided with a wreath of laurel yesterday afternoon. The wreaths were placed by representatives of the Victoria League at a ceremony arranged by the Glen Eden Town Board. A large wreath of laurel was placed at the foot of the monument, which was heaped with flowers. Mr. W. E. Martin, chairman of the board, presided at the ceremony and Mr. J. W. Shaw and the Rev. J. Wrigley spoke. Appropriate hymns were played by the Newton Salvation Army Band. The Victoria League held a ceremony at O’Neill’s Point Military cemetery. Girl Guides placed wreaths on about 100 graves. Mr. F. S. Townley Little represented the league and the Rev. W. J. Piggott, the Rev. A. Macdonald Aspland and Mr. R. H. Greville spoke. Rudyard Kipling’3 “Recessional” was sung at the Auckland Grammar School in the morning, after the headmaster, Mr. H. J. D. Mahon, read the Lord’s Prayer and the school prayer. Mr. A. C. A. Sexton, president of the Auckland Returned Soldiers’ Association, gave an address and told of the landing of the New Zealand troops at Gallipoli. The singing of the National Anthem concluded the service. Colours were saluted before the school memorial when the Cadet Battalion paraded and wreaths were deposited. The headmaster of King’s College, the Rev. H. K. Arelidall, conducted a service in the college chapel last evening before a large attendance.

Just as the finest action of the New Zealanders in France had been to make up the breach in the line before Amiens. Mr. Archdall said, so the great task in the present day was to build up the walls of civilisation and culture. The breach between science and art and the mutually suicidal breach between religion aad science must be closed and the cha#m between classes and nations brigged if the future were to be made safe. The act of remembrance was performed by the headmaster with the assistance of the school.

' Colonel T. H. Dawson. Captain J. G. C. Wales and Mr. H. G. Cousins, former principal of the Auckland Training College, were among those at the college’s service iji Its memorial library yesterday morning. Mr. J. W. Shaw said the present national spirit in New Zealand had risen from the achievements of the Dominion's soldiers. Wreaths were placed on the college memorial. Mr. D. M. Rae. principal, read a list of students who fell in the war, lessons were read by Mesrs. G. Coldham and H. Hodge, presidents of the former students’ association and the present students’ association respectively, and prayers were led by the vice-principal. Mr. F. C. Lopdel.