ANZAQ DAY, 1930.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 1735, 30 April 1930, Page 5

ANZAQ DAY, 1930.

I • "LEST WE FORGET." j ' ( Auzae Day was a close holiday iu ' Alexandra. Several of the buildings iu the main street'carried flags on their I poles and a spirit of reverence perI I meated the atmosphere. The weather '. was perfect and the ceremony to com- • memoratc the memory of those who |, made the supreme sacrifice in the Great ; I War was carried out in a fitting and >. proper manner. The service which was jheld in the Town Hall at 11 o'clock ] was a very impressive one. A lengthy '■ procession of Scouts, Cubs, Girl Guides, Brownies and pupils of the Alexandra D.H. School, headed by the Alexandra Brass Band, under Bandmaster W. Briugans, marched from the -Band Room to the Town Hall to the strains of a lively march. The officers iucharge of the units on parade were: Scoutmasters Douglas and Beilby; Cubmaster J. Duncan; Captain G, Taylor (Girl Guides); Licuts Gillctt and Jamie; Mr R. M'Lay and teachers of school. Marshal, Mr J. Watson. The Town Hall was comfortably filled by the" number of residents who assembled. On the platform, which was draped in Hags, Were the Mayor (Mr W. Briugans), the Revs. Simpson (Presbyterian) and Mr Thorley (Anglican) and a combined choir from the churches. Mr J.

Craig (piano), Mr ami Miss Harlcy (violins}~" and Mr J. D. Thomson' (bass) led the singing. The Returned Soldiers occupied the two front seats in the hall. THE SERVICE. In opening the service at the Town llulljyie Mayor (Mr W. liringans) addressed the children pointing out that Anzac Day was not a holdiay but a day of remembrance and gratitude to those who had made the supreme sacrifice in the Groat War. The glorious deeds of the Anzacs who fell on the fields of Gallopoli, Mesopotamia, Trance and Flanders would ever remain green in the memory of' those who had been left behind. The noble ideal of those who went out to do " their bit'' had left something for the children of to-day to look on with a feeling of pride. They have written the name of Anzac on the pages of fame. Mr Bringaus read apologies from Messrs "W. Black and C. E..Bichards both of whom were out of town. " The Mayor also received an apology from Lieut. C. B. Robertson, who wrote that, on account of sickness. 1... 1....1 „i tl.n „!,*-,. „,,*!, i,„„.. i,„„„ ~,,

ne nau ar ine eieveniu nour oeen unable to get together the tiring party of Fifth Mounted Bines,' "0, God Our Help in Ages Past," was sung, after which a lesson, taken from t lie first chapter .of Joshua, was. read by Mr Thorley. "Kipling's Recessional'? was. followed by Mr Thorley leading the congregation/in prayer. Prior to taking up the eollec'tion\,_(for tl'uj .'wounded anil maimed soldiers) Mr Bringaus read a I'letter of thanks: from the Otago organiser of the Poppy Day Fund for the efforts in Alexandra last year. The choir sang "Lead Kindly Light" and another hymn by the congregation w,as followed by an appropriate address by the Rev. J. Mi Simpson, B.A. After thanking the Mayor for the honour , that had been given him in speaking at. the commemoration service of this won-1 derful anniversary Mr Simpson dealt with one of the virtues "Courage" and, he weaved a most interesting address j which . gave his audience food for j thought. The amount of the collection £9. Ijs. was then announced and the ser- i vice closed with the National Anthem.

■ - AT THE MONUMENT. In the procession back to the Monument the 'Returned Soldiers and Boer War veterans followed the band and took up a position on the left of the steps. The parade was drawn'up in a square in front of the Monument: The Mayoress, escorted by the Mayor advanced and placed the Citizens' wreath in front of the tablet. Mr C. White (Main Bod/ N.Z.E.E.) and Mr A. Taylor (Boer War veteran) placed the Ket'ifrned Soldiers' wreath also at the front of the tablet. The Girl Guides (Captain Taylor) and Brownies (Lieut. Gillctt) placed wreaths at the sides. The ceremony was most impressive. Many were the floral tributes carried and reverently placed on the monument by friends and relatives. Conductor C. Eraser, of the Manuherikia Brass Band, played the "Last Post" which terminated the proceedings.