BATTLE OF WAIREKA.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 March 1918, Page 3

BATTLE OF WAIREKA.

VIiTERAXM CF.LKRRATK ANNI-YEI-ISAKY. The New Plymouth brunch of the New Zeah'.Hd Veterans' Association foregathered. on Thursday afternoon to celebrate the 38th anniversary of the battle of Wairekit. A abort .service was held in St- Mary's Church, at which the Von Archdeacon 'Cvana gave an addre.ss on the words, "I w:il lilt up nine eyes into the 'hills, from whence oometh my (Psaim 121. 2). The veterans then paraded to the Hygienic Tea Jiooms, where afternoon Lea wa.j dispensed and a number of toasti •veie honored.

-Mr. U F Uobiuscm presided, and there were about 4!J veterans LUe lion. 0- SamiU'L M.L.l'., Mr 11. ,1 Ukey ; M.P., and the S'oh Archdeacon Kvluis were also present- An apology for übsenee wtis received i ruin the A lay or of iXew Plymouth (.Mr C. If. chairman welcomed the visitors' He also pleasure at seeing >;o many comrades urcsem. and hoped that so lonjr as t'l'.e Vet As.-.oe:uiioti existed they would liieL't at least once <i venr. (

The first toast' ,vns that m "The Xavy anil Army,'' propped !>y Mi" <■* Adlain and responded t'< by -Mi' \V F Brooking The tSflst of "Tiie Bays at llie l-ront" was proposed by ihe lion. 0. .Samuel, M.L.C., in r.ii eloquent iiiici'cii He said it was no light tan!:, for his heart was full when he thought—in iK'ii less '-.poke—of Che boys at the front lie did not believe in dwelling on such subjects as kept alive a feeling of sndnc.is. .Vat on [those circmn.'Uanecs tlmt gave satisfaction ami provoked pride T'ie men present were enjoying much satisfaction and pride in their declining years demise ' they had the consciousness of having done their duty They had in defence. ]of the helpless imperilled their lives and done their duty. That wa» the keystone to every noble purpose, and the more arduous the cau«e the greater tlw credit. The boys at the front had responded nobly, willingly saerilicmg their future, for tile one purpose of doing their duty. All hearts were full of admiration for those who had gone (o uphold all tiiut was worth lighting ior. The toast was enthusiastically received and accorded musical honors. The Ven. Archdeacon Evans responded. He claimed a very close relationship, in a military sense, with the Xew Zealand hoys. He had not been a. chaplain for 27* years without petting to know something about them. He had seen "below the surface, and had found M per cent, of them true at heart and worthy of the greatest respect. Tie had, on active service, come in contact with boys from all parts of the Empire, and in them all was the same wonderful Briitsii type. The bovs at the front were to-day carrying on by the same principles and with the same courage that had actuated their fathers in times of adversity, and Xew Zealand could be justly proud of her sons.

Tiir? toast of the Xew Zealand Parliament was proposed by Mr. (Ireenway. In responding, the lion. 0. Samuel said lip was aware of the criticism of the Government that wa-, apparent on all sides. But it was almost impossible for any Government, in the circumstances, to do its duty without seeming to he harsh. Yet the Government had passed legislation .which, but for the exceptional circumstances, would have produced revolution in any free country. It was inevitable that tin; leaders, upon whom the people 'depended, should Ket firmly and lie urged that tlie people should put aside their criticisms and show sympathy for Parliament and its leaders.

Mr. H. J. Okey, yrlio also replied, referred to the National Cabinet /ovulation, iinil Hixiii tlmt after nearly throe years control by it lie thought the people were fully prepared to back it up. He did not believe any party could have put through the necessary war legislation. He specially mentioned the passing of the Military Service Act, and said he believed Parliament, would do the same again if it found itself in a similar position. He believed it to 'oe the duty of Parliament to send its leaders Home to voice the opinion of the Dominion on the vital question of the future of Samoa. The toast of "The Veterans Passed Away" was spoken to by Mr. 0 Curtis, and was honored in silence, Mr. W. Webster responding. Bugler H. J Walker sounded ''The Last Post." The of "The Press-' concluded the programme. During the afternoon songs were contributed liy Messrs A- Veale and R. L. Cooper, a violin solo by Mr F. C. Symes, and a cornet solo by Mr. F. \Y. G. McLeod- The accompaniments were played bv Mr T. Shone.

Votes of thanks were passed to (hose who contributed the 'music, and to the chairman, and the proceedings concluded with the singing of the National Anthem.