MEMORIAL TABLET UNVEILED

COLONEL HUGH STEWART CEREMONY AT KETURNEU SOLDIERS' ROOMS A tablet in memory of LieutenantColonel Hugh Stewart, C.M.G., D.5.0., M.C., Croix de Guerre, was unveiled by General Sir Alexander Godley at the rooms of the Christchurch Returned Soldiers' Association last night. Colonel Stewart, who died on his return to England from a short visit to New Zealand, towards the end of last year, was a former president of both the Christchurch and the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Associations, and was Proiessor of Classics at Canterbury University College from 1912 to 195>C. The Rev. F. T. Read, president of the Christchurch association, said that while Lieutenant-Colonel Stewart was president of the association lie hsd given his best. His death had been a great shock, and it had been felt that a tablet should be erected to the memory of a man who, besides being so gifted, had been a good comrade. "We know how clever he was, but we also knew how friendly he was," Mr Read said. "What the association is to-day is the result of what he did 10 years ago. He wi'S a man we shall miss, and his [memory will be cherished as long ae we live." I Sir Alexander Godley said that I Lieutenant-Colonel Stewart was a man who, whatevei his great qualities were in other walks of life, was 'firM and foremost a soldier. He reviewed his military career before he came to New Zealand, and said tl.bi on the outbreak of war he left Cnristchurch as a subaltern. It was remarkable that a man of his attainments should have been willing to take rank as a subaltern. Sir Alexander Go-ley went on to describe Lieutenant-Colonel Stewart's rise to the command of the Second Batallion, Canterbury Regiment, mentioning his winning of the Military Cross, the Distinguished Service Order, and the award of the nonoui of Companion, of the O-.-uct of St. Michael and St. George. "He was a soldier of very high quality indeed," he said. "He wa* a born leader of men and had enormous sympathy with his men. He was a man every soldier in New Zealand should hold in the most tender remembrance, and I know no man who was better fitted to lead and command.. If he had bea.i spared he would have risen to verv high rank, and to me his death was a very grievous loss." Sir Alexander Godley then unveiled the tablet, after which "Last jPost" and "Reveille" were sounded by buglers. The inscription on the tablet was as follows: — In Memory of Lt. Col. Hugh Stewart, C.M.G., D.5.0., M.C. Canterbury Regiment, N.Z.E.F. President of Christchurch R.S.A. 1923-1925. Fresident of N.Z.R.S.A. 1924-1926. Died at Sea, October 1934. A Gallant Soldier, a Good Comrade.