ANZAC DAY

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 11494, 28 April 1931, Page 3

ANZAC DAY

OBSERVANCE ON THE COAST. TOKOMAIUJ BAY. (.(Special to tlio Times.) Approximately 400 attended the Anzac Day service at Tokornaru Bay, especial interest being displayed in the unveiliii'g of. the handsome war memorial, situated on the roadside midway between the Bank of Now Zealand and Messrs. Oates Bros, store. , . . Promptly at 2.30 p.ui. the returned soldiers, under the leadership of Mr. M, J. White, received the order t<> fall in, and marched from tho . Bank of New Zealand across the main bridge, and so on to tlie s'te of the monument, where they halted directly in front of it. Along one side two rows of .school children were drawn up. The service opened with ihe singing of tho National Anthem, followed by a prayer. The hymn, “0 Cod, Our'Help m Ages Past,” was mr.g. Mr. A. L. lvirk, (chairman of the Wainpu County Council) gave a short address and then unveiled, the memorial, which is enhanced b.v a beautiful tablet of Italian marble, bearing the names'.of those who gave their lives in the Great Mar, and this inscription: “191.4-18 —'i he Great War—Erected in honor of tlie men of Tokoniaru Bay who gave their lives.” Addresses wore also delivered bv the Bov. J. .1. Anderson. Church of England minister, the Bov. H. Haig. {Presbyterian im,i raster, and the Bev. AA r . Moana, Maori minister, who spoke as under: — “Wo ai'e gathered here to-da.v at. the unveiling of this monument which has been erected in honor of our fallen comrades; Anzac Dav brings with it the sad and piercing thought: of the thousands and thousands of gallant souls who sacrificed their manhood on tho Altar of Bight, tabertv and Justice. “We say they died for England, hut, when wo look back on the calamitous days of war. do we not realise now that tli«v sacrificed themselves for sonnAhiug else ? “Hubert Burns, tlie immortal (Scottish poet said—‘M lie fondly loved us ; nay more—--that very love their cause of ruin.' “Did they’ die in vain? No. Their sacrifice was a spiritual, as well as bodily, sacrifice and tbev are waiting, with that soil'd ot cheerful eoinradoshin —which made Ihe British soldier loved wherever he went—for ns to do our part.— to advance the Kingdom of .Inst;ce and Peace throughout the Rriish Empire. “Before 1 conclude, J cannot forget nor do l wish you to forget, our brave heroes who are present to-dav__ manv of them blinded, maimed and suffering, ■and broken in health. They sluuphj stand foremost in the thoughts for •he-'prayers and remembrance of every single soul . tor whom they fought and suffered . ‘‘‘Who fondly loved ns; nav more, that very love their muse of ruin.’ ” —Burns. Kipling's “BocCssional" was sung. The Bev. J. .T. Anderson pronounced tlie Benediction. The sounding of the Last Post by Mr. I. V. Fox eoneluded a very impressive service. AD. A. Morgan was the organist. There is a large space around tin’ monument for improvement in the wav of tree planting and seating ueeominodatioiV, and the township lias a good opportunity to beautily the spot before next Anzac Day. BE ATORIA. lSpecial To Tlie Times). The service at Ruatoria was held in tlie Maimtahi Hall, where Mr. W. A)’. Ludhrook presided over an attendance of about 2GO, including some 40 returned soldiers, who. together with a large number of children from the Ruatoria School, marched from a nearby rallying point to the hall. Addresses on appropriate tests "■ere given to the meeting bv vhe Revs. Mr finish (Tokomaru Ihiv) P. Tanuihori (Tupar.oa), S. B. B. C'orbin fTe Ara-ron), and J. J. Anderson (AVnipiro Bay). 4 lie sj’oakers dwell upon the magnificent deeds of the men of the N.Z.E.F. and of the soldiers who were associated with thorn m the exploits of Anzac, and in other theatres of war, and held up their example to tlie present and. coming generations as one worthy r -t the highest degree of pride and or. illation. A’nrious angles of the subject were taken up in turn, and t) use present wore given a thorough exixjsition of the force of an observance such ns they were participating in. Appropriate hymns were “line during the service, which was one of the most impressive yet held at the AVaiapu centre. PAT UTAH I AND MANUTUKE Anzac Day services were held in the public halls at both Patutahi and Manutuko, the Revs. C. G. G. Salt and John Maim acting in cooperation at both, the former conducting the service and the latter delivering the addresses. There were largo attendances, including many returned anon, at both places. G’irl Guides under Airs Habgood (captain) and Owls under Miss Salt also attended at Patutahi. Many floral emblems were deposited at the war memorials. IJn bis address, the Bev. John Mann emphasised that the day was not one for the glorification of war, but for remembrance of heroic sacrifices during tho terrible war years, sacrifices which the people dare not forget and to which they could pay the highest tribute by consecrating their Jives to truth and righteousness and following after the things which made for peace. After such an upheaval as the Great AVar, readjustment must needs follow and possibly' in to-day’s troubles these were taking place. The war was hot fought in vain. The speaker referred to changes in the world since the war and claimed that tho ultimate effect would he betterment. That this was the truth was emphasised by; the manner 'in .which tlie Christian forces and all other forces of righteousness had been drawn together in tho tight against mankind’s enemies, ignorance, disease! lawlessness, ar/:l the like. Anzac Day spoke to .us of ; -healthy- 'devotion to ' King and country, of tho need for spiritual well-being, and the need for extending God’s ;gi;oat Kingdom. OBSERVANCES AT OPOTIKI. ("Special to the Times \ The observance of Anzac Day avals eaviriecl out in a very impressive Anahuer. Tho procession of returned men to (the Soldi ora’- Memorial- iwas largely attended, GO : ox-soldiers falling in, as well as a largo troop, of Boy Scouts and two troops’of Girl G.uidos. The ffjduts -wore in- charge of Scoutmaster Bei'iliam, and the , St. Stephen’s,. Girl Guidos under Mrs. Morrell, the open' company being in charge of Mrs. A. E. (Martin. The ißOgent. Theatre was filled to' capacity, a-, Sfost impressive and solonni service .being' hehl; Mr. J. U. Reid was chairman, being.sun-' ported by ltey. Bophain; Itev. J. A'. McKenzie.. Adjutant: Douglas and 1 Rev. G. R. Hams,, .who-gavo an address. A .solo.was sung hv Mr. V. J. Cookei; the “Last .. Post” being somi'ded by. two buglers, and proceed-/ Lngs closed Avith 'the singing'of‘“The' National Anthem/ ’

7 ORMOND ' Residents of Ormoml gathered in largo numbers in the schoolroom on Anzae Day. Mr D. 0. Beattio preside fl and Mr G. Barton represented the Gisborne R.S.A., whilo tho Rev. It. Hodgson, of W aei'cng a-a-luka , was the clergyman present. In opening the . ceremony, the chairman warmly thanked the people of Ormond for turning out in such numbors for an observance winch, until a. few years ago, appeared to be losing its appeal. This was the tliiixl occasion on which Ormond people had held a separate observance and it was easily the best from the point of view of attendance. Mr Beattie also expressed satisfaction concerning the renewed spirit of appreciation of the sacrifices of the war years, and tho hope that as the years passed, tho anniversary would not lose force. Pride of Empire, and a realisation of the responsibilities involved in citizenship of a great empire, formed the basis of the address given by Mr Hodgson, who pointed to the deoils of the Anz.acs and their com-rades-in-arms as typifying the sacrifices which responsibilities of Empire might entail. Mr Hodgson spoke briefly but with a considerable degree of effect ori the example set to those who followed the men of the N. and the debt imposed upon those .whoso freedom and ■ happiness had been secured at great price during the years of war. Speaking particularly for the benefit of children among the gathering, Mr Barton explained what had been in the minds of tho legislators when Anzae Dav liud been set aside, not as a holiday, but as a day of remembrance hi honor of the war dead. He exhorted the younger generation to bear in mind bow greatly different the world would have been today but for the readiness of their elders to lay down their lives in defence of the principle of liberty Jor large nations and small. 'J be responsibility of making tho sacrifice worth while would devolve upon tlio children of to-dav as they grow to manhood and womanhood. Mr Barton pointed out, and by the manner in which they responded to that responsibility would be measured the future honor of Llni Dominion. 'J'E K All AKA At To Karakn. the attendance at the Anzae Day service was the largest for several years, and many beautiful wreaths were deposited at tlio base of the fine war memorial presented to the township bv Mr E. M. Hutchinson shortly after the war. A picturesque and fitting service was conducted by the Rev. A. It. H. Morris, vicar of To Karakn parochial district, assisted by the Rev. W. A. Port or. of Ormond, ’the scripture reading was delivered by Capt. O. Parkinson, who led the returned men on parade, and the prayer and address were given by Messrs Morris and Porter respectively. 'The usual features, including the sounding of the Last Post and Reveille, were adopted for the service. The address was eloquent and earnest on the greater meaning of the word “Anzae.” Mr Porter asked ins hearers to hear in mind that the commemoration was not confined to the sacrifices of those who had served in the landing at- Gallipoli, bm. to those of all the men who fought for their country in all tlio theatres of war. He directed to the younger members of tho gathering a forceful recommendation to 1 study the example of the men who bad answered the call in the war years, and to adapt that soirit to the needs and problems of their everyday life. Tlio parade of returned men at le Karakn service was tho host on record. the' ’Waikohu It.S.A. being -trongly represented and reinforced I,y a number of men who are not as yet members of the ex-soldiers’ organisation. Hie parade state "as «>> returned men, and Boy Scout and Girl Guide units were also well in evidence at the service. On offertory taken on behalf ot the Waikohu R.S.A. yielded a total of £7 Ss od. TORONTO RKM EMBERS LANDING. COMMEMORATIONS IN CANADA. (Ut’.A. bv Lice. Teh Copyright) (Received April '27, 7 p m.) TORONTO. April In commemoration of the binding of the Australian . and New Zealand troops un Gallipoli. -the rc.-idmts here of (hose Dominions laid a wrealh on the Cenotaph. 'The Mayor (Mr. Stewart) 1 banked tho delegates, and told them that Toronto stili remembers the landing. At Kitchener, a similar ceremony was held.