GREAT GATHERING AT MANAIA.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 26 April 1927, Page 5

GREAT GATHERING AT MANAIA.

IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY. The Anzao Day services at Maaxaia were perhaps never so widely attended as was tlie case yesterday, for in the large gathering assembled at the Town Hail were .representative settlers from many parts of South Taranaki —Okaiawa, luaha, Kaponga, Riverlea, Kaupokonui, Kapuni, in addition to a large number from Manaia and surrounding area. The Town Hall was .packed, and! extra seating had to be provided. The order of service was most reverently conducted, and altogether it made a most impressive ceremony. A procession headed by the Manaia Band was made from the Octagon; those on parade including Territorials under Lieut. Hastie, members of the Returned Soldiers’ Association and veterans, Boy Scouts under Troop Leader Payne, Girl Guides under Captain J. Hill and Lieut. M. Ritter, the parade being in charge, of ColoneL T. Sutherland. Then followed school children and ladies carrying wreaths. At the Town Hall, Rev. C. W. Solomon presided, and the address was given' by Rev. H. C. Orchard, while Rev. J. D. Smith assisted. Associated with them* on the stage were Mr' N. C. Innes (chairman of the Town Board), and Mr J. H. Anderson (president of the R.S.A.). On the stage was ai cross covered with a striking wreath of poppies and palm leaves. • i The service opened' with the singing of the National Anthem, and the hymns were Kipling’s “Recessional,” “0 God our help,” andi “For all the Saints,” sung by the congregation, led by the Manaia Band under Mr Cosgrove. Mr Orchard .based his address on the text. Matthew xxv., v. 21: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” “This,” he said, “was a day of high resolve and a day of remembrance.” He sketched briefly the leading events in the world war, with special reference to the great adventure of Gallipoli, whence came the name “Anzac.” a name, he said, to be conjured with. He pictured the people of the worldwide Empire, of all races, creeds and colours, answering to the great oa.ll. He referred to the pride the people had in the freedom, and justice which existed under the Union Jack, a heritage bequeathed to them, by those who went before. The features of the landing at Gallipoli and the occupation were briefly sketched, the speaker stressing the dangers and' hardships that were fneed until the evaluation. He asked if t-he whole struggle and! suffering had been in vain. The answer, he added, wa ; s emphatically “No,” and showed that the world knew what it meant to he a. citizen of the Empire. At thq head of all chivalry and courage stood Jesus Christ, the great “Captain of our Saltation.” Concluding, he urged all to “nlav up and play the galme,” to be worthv of the great sacrifice, and, following the glorious example of those who bad; gone, to stand for the 'highest and truest British ideals. AT THE MONUMENT. The gathering then returned to the monument in the Octagon, where the solemn ceremony was concluded. The < i bard having plaved the hymn “Abide with me,” Mr. J. H. Anderson, president of the R.S.A.. paid a tribute to tbe fallen, saying: “I place this wreath on the monument on behalf of Manaia returned soldiers, as a tribute to fallen comrades.” . ‘ The monument was a mass of flowers, the wreaths being sent by friends and relatives of the fallen and by various local institutions. In front was a,

white cross, symbolical of the crosses marking the resting-place in foreign climes of iso many of onr men. The assemblage then stood in reverent silence for one minute, after which Mr. Solomon having read some sentences from the burial service, the band played the “Dead March” and the “Last Post”, was sounded by Air. Cosgrove.