PETONE CATHOLIC BAZAAR

New Zealand Tablet, 6 March 1919, Page 18

PETONE CATHOLIC BAZAAR

A bazaar organised by members of the Petbne Catholic Church for the purpose of supplementing the fund for the erection of a memorial church to ChaplainFather McMenamin, who was killed in action, was opened on Monday evening,. February 24, by the Hon. the Minister of Defence, Sir James Allen. Opportunity was also taken by the Minister of Defence to present the Military Medal won by the late Gunner E. A. Parr to his mother.

Father Quealy explained the objects of the bazaar,and paid a tribute to the memory of the late Gunner A. Parr and Chaplain McMenamin. Sir James Allen said he had a double function to perform—-first of all he had to present the Military Medal to the mother of Gunner Parr, who lost his life at the front, and his next was to open the bazaar, which was being held for the purpose of raising funds to carry out the work Chaplain McMenamin had at heart. First of all he would deal with Gunner,Parr. Gunner Parr had been killed in action on October 30, 1917, and he regretted very much that Gunner Panhad not been able to come back alive and well in order that he might himself receive the medal. He was sure they all felt very deep sympathy for Iris parents and relatives, particularly his mother, who had bravely come there to receive the medal. Gunner Parr; killed in action, was awarded the medal for conspicuous bravery, and no words of bis could convey to ' the mother what he would like to tell her and what the people would like him to tell her, but he could assure her they all honored this brave man and sympathised with her and his other relatives in the loss of one who was of necessity dear to them. He hoped this medal would bring comfort to her and be a lasting memorial of what this man did. Sir James Allen then handed to Mrs. Parr the medal won by her son. Gunner E A Parr. ‘ The Minister then went on to perform the opening ceremony in connection with the bazaar. He said they were met there to do honor to another brave -man. Chaplain McMenamin, killed in action, and he hoped they would realise the full meaning of the words. Chaplains were not sent away from New Zealand with rifles and bayonets to fight' with; they had to fight another battle—to fight against temptation and evil. Chaplain McMenamin was one of our bravest chaplains, and he (Sir James Allen) was sorry he was not spared to come back and resume his duty, and he deeply regretted his loss. General Godley had written to him more than once about Chaplain McMenamin, and asked that he might have accelerated promotion. That acceleration had been granted. Chaplain McMenamin had been one of the first chaplains to leave New Zealand. Chaplain McMenamin’s work was well known to the Defence authorities, and had he been spared to come back his services would have been of great value with the Territorials. He felt great pleasure in being present to do honor to t-Avo brave —one a. fighting soldier and the other a fighting chaplain, brothers in arms, brothers in adversity,, and now brothers beyond the vale. He had much pleasure in declaring the bazaar open, and hoped they would bo able to raise sufficient funds to carry out Father McMenamin’s cherished plans. The Hon. T. M. Wilford also expressed his pleasure at being able, to help in the bazaar and to pay tribute to Gunner Parr, who had “gone West.” Speaking in regard to the late Chaplain McMenamin, Mr. Wilford said that if out of this war on© great Avar memorial was erected, and an epitaph written for those who laid down their lives in this great cause, the epitaph he would write would be in these words: “For your tomorrow they gave their to-day.” For the National Government, he would say that New Zealand had got to stand by and see that every one of the returning men was given a good start. In conclusion, he hoped they would all give willingly and help to carry pur Father! J&pMenamin’s cherished plan.

His Grace ' Archbishop , O’Shea also expressed his pleasure at being present to pay tribute to the memory of two brave men.

The stall-holders were: —Produce stall, 5 Mesdames Ford, Brice, Fitzgerald, and Nicholas; sweets stall, Mrs.. Upton, Misses Upton, M. Carter, F. Chesterman, and O’Connor; Children of Mary’s sta 1 1, Misses Guthrie, Sheehy, Gaynor, Linehan, Cloherty, Gleeson, and A. Guthrie; fancy stall, Mesdames Saunders, Lynskey, Donovan, Coles, Gardner, and Powell; plain stall, Mesdames Maunder, Ward, Wilcox, Leitch, Cate, and Miss - Keating; refreshment room, Mesdames Ryder, Lazarus, O’Halloran, Levy, and Parson, and Misses Parson and Walsh. An excellent musical programme was provided by Misses Zelda Bailey, Kathleen O’Brien, Betty Carr, Cressell Vaughan, Ira Wolfgang, and Iris Inglesby.