BRIDGE OF REMEMBRANCE.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18228, 12 November 1924, Page 11

BRIDGE OF REMEMBRANCE.

OPENED BY GOVERNOR-

GENERAL.

AN IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY. With due regard to the importance of the occasion, the Bridge ■of Remembrance was yesterday opened by hia Excellency the Governor-General .iu the presence of a huge concourse of people. The morning broke dull and grey, but , during tho ceremony the sun came out and shone brilliantly, and enabled the beauty of the arch aud bridge to be soen

to the best advantage. . The scene was an imposing one whroi the Yicc-Begal party arrived at the Cambridge terrace entrance io the Bridge punctually at 10 a.m., their arrival being heralded by. the baaci of the I'irst» Canterbury "Regiment playing the National Anthem. - After hi.3 .Excellency had inspected the guard of honour,

which was supplied by the Artillery units, their Excellencies were, met by the Mayor (Mr J. A. Flcsher) and Mayoress, the chairman o£ the Memorial Committee (Mr Andrew Borrows), the hoa. secretary of the committee (Mr J. Wyn Irwin) and Mrs Wyn Irwin, and Mr MeMurray, recently acting hon. secretary of the committee. Her Excellency was then presented with a bouquet by Mrs Wyn Irwin. The proceedings were conducted from a ; platform, on which were . seated, in addition to those already mentioned, Archbishop Julius, .who said the prayer of dedication,, the Hon. Sir B. Heaton Jihodes, Minister of Defence,. Colonel H. Stewart, president of the K.S.A., Colonel J. Young, O.C. Southern Command, Commander Bcal, of H.M.S. ; Duncdin, and Commodore of the New Zealand Squadron, Sir Francis Bell, and a number of military officers, representatives of " various public bodies, the clergy and' others. - The Committee's Thanks. Mr Borrows ■ said that many memorials had'been erected in the Dominion ;to perpetuate the memory of those who had served in the Great .War, but among them' all the Bridge of Kemembra'nee stood unique "in its associations-with tie war period, as it was across tho stream now spanned by.the., Bridge that tho brave lads of the city had marched on. their, way to camp, and' again, on their return. ; He paid a tribute to Mr and Mrs J. "Wyn Irfoin for-the work they had' done in: conneiion with the memorial, and'oppressed, the committee's /thanks, to them, for, it.. Ho ..dealt with the history of the movement; to erect tfo Bridge, and thanked the architects, Messrs _G.ummqr, the. eontractors, ■ Messrs Scott and Sons, the 'sculptors and' masons, and the May9r, •.City'Council, anfl others associated with it. . : Mr ..Borrows said that his Excellency fiad laid the foundation ston.q on Anzac Day of 1923, and it was therefore fitting that he should, although at great personal sacrifice: to-himself, have come down, from .Wellington to open the Bridge. : ' ' ... J Bepreseiitativo of Government. j '■■■' Sir. Heaton Rhbdes isaid'that when he | was :asked to 1 represent the Government afe ;tiie .ceremony, owing to tho Prime

Minister being, unable to do so because | of,/illness, he. did 60 witii regret, because jie felt himself toat. poor sfcitute. .. 'Nevertheless,; 'he felt it a 'great hpneur to -bo associated with tho memorial as he was. Mr Massey had a&ked him to his ■ congratulations arid those of ; his coHeagues .to . the comTruttefe upon the excellencoof the memorial, with' the hep© that it would'serve ifa purpbse as an everlasting memorial 'to those' who had' laid down, their lives '.in the Great .War. Sir Heaton: referred appreciatively to the Senior Service, the, Navy, without whose protection h© said, the transports of New Zealand troops would, never ha<v© got to the Front. He was gratified at being allowed to speak, because on tho occasion :of- b'is mission to' Gallipoli and France he ; had learned of the sufferings endured bv New Zealand troops. In conclusion "he hoped the SJridge would stand for ever as a reminder to the living that they ehould maka sacrifices in times of peace to assist each other. The hymn "O God Our Help in' Ages Past" was sung by these present, j. Colonel.Stewart,.on.behalf r of the re- ! turned . soldiers of Canterbury and of

the whole Dominion, congratulated tho citizens on tho memorial and extended sympathy to \ bereaved relatives. He was honoured, he said, to be present at the opening of a memorial which symbolised the • sacrifices, not only, of the soldiers and sailors, but of the people as a whole'. He had to thank the citizens:for the continued interest thej. had shown in the returned men. Vested in the City. Mrs Wyn Irwin handed the Mayor a letter from the committee entrusting the care of the Bridge to him on behalf 6f Hie citizens. The Mayor, in siccepting it, undertook to see that it would always be cared for, with grateful remembrance. •'

■Mr Wyn Irwin also spolte briefly. Addressing bie Excellency. the Mayor requested.hmi to open the Bridge. ''lt is most, fitting you should do so," he said, "because of the responsible' position -you held in tho war as the head of the great Service, which is the keeper of• the British nation. "■ It was fitting, he ?ulded, that' his Exoellency's. last public function' iii Christchurch should be to open the Bridge as,' irrespective of. his position' as Governor-<seneral, there was none moro fitting to perform the- ceremony.

LORD JELLICOE'S SPEECH. j "Ceremonies such as-these," said Viscount Jolliooe, "have been all too I'fomiliar, to-me during' the four years that I have spent in this Dominion. This ceremony, will-live long in .my memory, first of all hoc-use it is;the last occasion on which, as his Majesty's reprosentativo in- New Zealand, I am honoured-."by "being asked to do honour to New- Zealand's soldiers, and, secondly, becauso of the immense assemblage which I see. before mo in this historic city •of Ch ri s tch u reli—-en assemblage such as I Have never seon before 011 an occasion as this during my four years in the [Dominion. '

"A day like. thisj : whilst it brings back many painful and sad memories to all hearts, does ot tho same time bring to those hearts a feeling of great pride in the achifeveihents which New Zealand's: Expeditionary Force carried out during the Great Weir. I deeply regret the absence through illness of Uhe Prim© Minister of the Dominion, because I feel that .in such; a mony as this his absence, is greatly to Be - deplored, and his presence would be very much appreciated—(heahear)—not only becauso of the high office which lie hclds in New Zealiind - Prime

Minister who, - aided- by his - colleagues in tho National Government; shouldered responsibility during the war and still remains in office. (Hear, hear.) "All war memorials that r-re erected have as their object a. reminder to the people of what they signify, l>ut of all the war memorials which- I have seen I think that .this Bridge of Remembrance is especially designed to bring back to the hearts of thcvso nowliving and to stimulate in the hearts of those yet to come, memories—sacred memories connected with the Groat War; memories of those thousands who, inspired by loyalty, a determina--tion to protect the weak, a determination to uphold the sacredness ' of treaties, to protect their homes, "and: to save tho rtamo »'Jid honour of the Empire, trod the bridge which this one replaces, during tho years of the Great War.

"The Bridge will also recall memories of most gallant deeds performed by the New Zealand Expeditionary Force and will recall duty well done. It will recall that chivalry and splendid discipline of Now Zealand's soldiers, all of which culminated in that victory which led our enemies six years ago to-day to site for an armistice" and there is no one connected with- any profession more than a sailor rjid naval officer who feels greater tho honour being paid hijn by being asked to toko part in a ceremony to do honour to Now Zealand's soldiers and especially those from Canterbury. "Tlio Navv'saw on tho historical shores of Geillipoli what New Zealand soldiers Mere eapr.blo of doino;. it was their privilege to share m that wonderful record of determination, of the will to victory, and of the refusal to ad net defeat for which Galh'poli will ever, be famous. And this lindgo'-will recall, too, memories, of great suffering, anguish, and sorrow in the hearts of those who lost their loved ones. It. rcc.Jls -iLso the suffering .of those. thousands of New Zealand soldiers who came biick maimed—in any incapacitated for life —and it is a reminder to do our duty to those bereaved, for whom wc feci such deep sympathy, and to those maimed soldiers who should) be, and who ;;re,, New Zealand's first/ care. (Applause.) Of all parts of the limpire, I will riot hesitate to say, nowhere arc returned • soldiers bettor looked after cr cared for, especially thofco maimed, than in this Dominion. (Applauso.) ,

"'Finally, this Brideo is designed, to bring back to tho children of this generation, and of all '-future generations, a. reminder of what has bsen done to preserve to .tliern freedom and safety. It should bo, .and, 110 doubt will be. an inspiration to future generations to preserro unsullied that groat reputa- ■ t'oll whicli • was earned for New Zea-

land by her soldiers-during the Great War. It will, I feel sure, be an incentive to everyono in this Dominion to preserve that- great unity of 'Empire to which the. Allies so,much-owed their victory, and lo see that in tho futuro the British .Empire,' as in tho" past, stands* for. iustkxj cad for- freedom,'' (Hear hear.) ' '

Two Minutes' Silence. At • the conclusion of his speech his Exoellency cu.t a ribbon f.t each/end of tho bridge, and. standing under tho arch, took the saluto of 300 returned soldiers who." under Major Iy. M. •Gresson and headed by a band, march'©d pnst. in representation of their de.parture for' camp .some .few, years- earlier, the.march 1 back- to the 'barracks symbolising their return from the front.

The hour ,of ; II struck before, the proceedings. were conducted, - and -at a signal of a gun shot fired at. tho Barracks the • parado of- returned men halted on' tlie Bridge 'while they were joined by his Excellency and thcpu&lio m a two' iniriu'tes' iriipressive' sileriob, tho ceremony ,t cbricltoairig , with the sounding of "The ...Last Post." , Subsequently a number of beautiful wreaths fjrom tho Bridge of .Renieiiibraiice Coriiinitteo. tho 1?,.5.A.. H.M.S. Duncdin, and others '.vera deposited on' the Bridge. ■ • :