IN THE HUTT VALLEY

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 97, 26 April 1932, Page 11

IN THE HUTT VALLEY

GENERAL OBSERVANCE

PETONE CELEBRATIONS

A smaller crowd than in previous years gathered in the Potone -Recreation Ground for the Anzac service. There was a large muster of. members of the loe'al branch of the B.S.A.

The Mayor (Mr. D. MeKenzie) prosided, and with him on the dais were tho Mayoress, and the Revs. Canon P. James, C. F., J. C. Loan, J. T. Crozicr, F. S. Eamson, and B. J. James.

Tho proceedings opened with the National Anthem, ami the hymn "O God Our Help," after which the Rev. Mr. Crozier led in' prayer. Another hymn, "Bock of Ages," and a Scripture reading by the Rev. B. J. James preceded the address, which was given, by Canon James.

After quoting- the description of the Australian and New Zealand soldier by an English staff officer as the "bravest thing God ever made," Canon James said that Anzac Day would always be kept as a day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand. They remembered it for those men who died and for those men who fought and returned. All alike had made the same offering in putting their-lives to the hazard, and for it the country paid homage to the returned soldiers. The returned men were the generation who had borne the brunt of the war, and were bearing the brunt of the present troubles of the world. They had come back to start life again, and, handicapped as they wero, had built up what they thought till two years ago was a secure position for themselves. Now their positions were either threatened or gone. To those men he said, "Stick it." He believed that New Zealand was sound at heart, but the people needed the strength, that God' had taught them during the Great War. In this tho country looked to the returned men for an example and he was sure it would not look in vain.

Kipling's "Recessional," led, as was all the singing, by the Salvation Army Band, the lament by the Caledonian Society's Pipe Band, the "Last Post" and "Reveille," sounded by Bugler H. Toomer, and the Benediction by the Rev. F. S. Ramson closed .the proceedings.

The service at the. Petone "West School was conducted by Ensign Mehaffey, of the Salvation Army, anS he and Lieutenant B;. W. Toomath, representing the R.S.A., addressed the gathering. The Salvation Army band led in the singing of several hymns, and the Last Post was sounded by Bugler H. Toomer. .

The address at the Petone Central School was delivered by Sergeant G. Hayton, D.C.M., M.M., on behalf of the B.S.A. The Eev. J. 0. Loan led in prayer, and the Scripture reading was given by the Eev. B. J. James. At the conclusion of the service the children marched to the Recreation Ground to place wreaths on the monument;

A similar service was held at the Wilford School. There the address was given by Colonel Colquhoun, president of the Hutt Valley branch of the R.S.A. The religious side of the ceremony was conducted by tho Eev. J. T. Crozier.