AT THE GIRLS' COLLEGE

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 96, 23 April 1921, Page 9

AT THE GIRLS' COLLEGE

REMEMBRANCE CEREMONIES.

A threefold ceremony was necessary for the Wellington Girls' College pupils in order to ejiable every girl to take part in a sincere? and touching remembrance of all those who fell in the Great War. The college hall is so inadequate in size that the principal, Miss Mac Lean, and her staff had to make special arrangemente, and hold three separate ceremonies. The first took place in the Sydney-street Hall, when about 250 of the younger girls were present. Suitable decorations of flags, flowers, maps, and sketches of Gallipoli were arranged there, and also at the college hall. On each occasion the fine hymn, "O God, Our Help," <he Reoessional, and the National Anthem were sung. In the morning, Lt.-Col. H. J. M'Lean, N.Z.M.C., and the Rev. Robert Wood addressed the girls, and emphasised the fine spirit in disregarding discomforts and changes which was a feature of the Anzac soldiers' conduct, and gave interesting details of the campaign. In the afternoon at the College Hall, at the first meeting, the Mayor, Mr. J. P. Luke, presided. He was accompanied by Mrs. Luke. The Mayor spoke of the necessity of remejabering always the sacrifices and sufferings which had •won so much for the world. He commended Lt.-Col. Mitchell's untiring efforts to have Anzac Day recognised not only as a statutory holiday, but as a true day of prayerful remembrance of thousands of heioic men, and women as well. Mr. Luke paid a tribute.to the wonderful endurance of the women who went to the war and the women who stayed at home and watched and waited, hearing both fear and sorrow. Mrs. Luke followed with a hearty commendation of the work of nurses and other wax workers.

Lt.-Col. Mitchell spoke interestingly, of the landing at Gallipoli, telling the girls many things which only an eyewitness could have known.' His address was listened to with deep attention, and the girls gave him an ovation of applause.

The Hon. C. J. Parr, Minister of Education, presided at the third meeting, and was accompanied by Mrs. Parr. On the platform were Mr. Forsyth, Lt.-Col. H. J. M'Lean, N.Z.M.C., the Revs. T. Fielderi Taylo? and Thornton, the last three having been on active service-1 for a considerable period of time.

Mr. Parr alluded to the fact that the Anzac soldiers were untried men, and had, at she outset, been regarded aa "negligible" by the Germans, who had occasion to alter thew opinion very completely. Mr. Parr quoted some of John Masefiold's wonderful tribute to the Anzac soldiers, and also urged continual remembrance of their heroism and sacrifices.

Ls.-Col. M'Lea-n and the Rev. Messrs. Thornton and T. Fielden Taylor, followed ' with ve.-y interesting reminiscences of the war. Mr. Taylor said that tho force that dominated the soldiers was tho one purposo for which they racrificed everything—com'ort, health, limbs, sight, hearing, life itself—and that was the benefit of the Empire and the upholding of its supremacy. The girls passed a, vote of thanks tp ail speakers at, the request of Miss M'Le'an, with most hearty and prolonged acclamation, and Miss M'Lean and the staff entertained the, visitors at tea after tlia conclusion of the ceremonies. Miss M'Lean announced that it prize had been offered for the best essay on "The Historic Associations of the Dardanelles."'