LOWER HUTT HONOURS BOARD

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 68, 13 December 1917, Page 6

LOWER HUTT HONOURS BOARD

UNVEILED BY SIR JAMES ALLEN,

The King George Theatre, Lower Hutt, was well filled with residents on Tuesday eveninn; to witness the ceremony of unveiling the honours hoard presented by the Mayor (Mr. H. Baldwin) for tile recording of tlio names oB soldiers who had gone from the borough. The Boy Scouts formed a guard of honour for the guests of the ovening, and the school children, wlio ha(t been specially trained, sang portions of the National Anthems of the Allies, under the baton of Mr. D. Robertson, Mrs. N. Burns presiding at the piano. The Hon. T. M.' Wilford occupied tlio chair. . • 1 Sir James Allen, who was received, with applause, said the Mayor had set a very good example. It would be a; scandal if the names of those who had done their share wore not recorded. Many of the lads whose names wero there had "gone Wcst"-gone down, with the setting of the sun to, ne believed, rise again. He offered his sympathy to the sorrowing ones. One of the great things the war had done was to bring together all people of the iiinpire. The Maoris had well upheld their end.' The General bad been so struck with their work that he had decided to give them the separate title of the Maori Pioneer Battalion. He did nob know how many more names would need to be added, to tlio houours board, but lie was sure there would be 110 fan tering until the end we had in view was accomplished. Wo-were determined to see that the world'should not again b« bathed in such a holocaust of blood. He desired to give a word of consolation and of hope. We had now a largo number at the front, and we liadJ pledged ourselves' to keep' up these re*, inforcements, but the Army Council > because we had always done what was required of us, had during the last three or four months reduced the quota, of our reinforcements. He did not believe that any membbr of the Second Division would go mviiy till August. Ha hoped that the men with one, tivo, or three children would never have to g away. Tile time of testing had conio to the British nation. No one had considered the possibility of our failureThere was 110 doubt of the ultimate issue in Italv, and our men in Palestine were now inside the walls of the ancient City of Jerusalem. In conclusion,-Sii James Allen expressed the hope the example of the Mayor of Lower, Hutt in his gracious act would be copied elsewhere. . . The board, which was designed _ by, Mr. F. de J. Clere and is of red pine,' was then unveiled, the actual removing of the flags being done by a sailor and: a soldier. „ r . Colonel Purdy, Dr. Mason, Mr. Ji. ■ < Rishworth, and Mr. D. M. Yeats a < dressed the gathering briefly. The Hon. T. M. Wilford moved al motion of tlianks and appreciation to" Mr. H. Baldwin for his gift, and pleaded tbat nothing was too great in the way of recognition of the work or tn» men who had gone. He expressed the opinion that the war was never going better than to-day. . ' ... Mr. H. Baldwin was received witli applause. Ho thanked all the speakers for their kindly remarks, but refused to take the credit. The idea of erecting the board was suggested to him bj a lady. After the holidays, lie would cnll a meeting to arrange for commemorating the memory of those who had answered the last call- . trict High School children had raised a sum of money, and on wero going to entertain the children, and mothers of soldiers at tho froi . Votes of thanks were accorded to tlio Hon. T. >M. Wilford and Sir James Allen for their visit, _ The sinEing of tlis National Anthouv brought tfie function to a close.