WELLINGTON HARBOUR BOARD

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 25, 29 July 1926, Page 15

WELLINGTON HARBOUR BOARD

WAR MEMORIAL UNVEILED SIMPLE, IMPBESSIVE CBBEMONY. The war memorial to members of^thc Wellington Harbour Board's staff "who served and fell, one of the most simple and dignified in design yet erected, was unveiled yesterday afternoon by the chairman of the Harbour Board (Mr. M. Cohen) before the next-of-kin of those who fell and those who served who are still on the staff, and members of the board. The memorial consists of a quarterinch plate of plain copper, sft by 3ft 9in, surmounted by the board's arms, and mounted on a slab of grey Italian marble, placed in the hall leading to the board room. Within a framed square in the centre are "those who fell," surrounded by the names of their comrades in arms. The simple, deeplycut lettering adds to the dignity of the tablet. Addressing those present, Mr. Cohen said that it had been decided that the utmost simplicity and brevity should characterise the ceremony. "We-have met together," he said, "for the purpose of fulfilling a solemn and sacred duty, and whilst the years that have passed of which the tablet before us is a symbol, may have assuaged the grief of those bereaved, there remains with us and them, the treasured memory of cheerful sacrifice and noble performance of duty. From time immemorial it has fallen to the young manhood of a nation, in their time, to defend its honour and the preservation of its highest national ideals. We pray that in the fullness of time, and by the strivings of wise national counsellors, the terrible scourge of war shall forever cease, but should the dark pinions of conflict cast their shadow over our beloved Empire, we may take comfort in the expectation that our sons' sons, inspired by the example of their forefathers, will likewise not fail to dutifully preserve and protect all that they hold most dear in their love of King, Home, and Country. The tablet before us contains the names of those associated with the Wellington Harbour Board, who to their external honour and the pride of their kindred, responded nobly to their country's call. There are some whose soula. have journeyed to the setting sun, some have happily been restored to their dear ones. To all we bow in whole-souled gratitude. To the glory of god, in reverent memory of the fallen, in respectful sympathy to their kindred, and in everlasting gratitude to all whose names are inscribed thereon, I now unveil this memorial." The beautiful wreath deposited by the chairman took the form of the anchoi^f the board's arms, covered with nar<Ssi, White begonias, and purple iris and violets.