MANAIA’S TRIBUTE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 26 April 1928, Page 8

MANAIA’S TRIBUTE.

AN IMPOSING CEREMONY. Anzac Day was observed at Alanaia oy a large and .representative gathering, Keen to do honour to the fallen heroes. 'line commemoration -service, wlucli was held in the Manaia Town Hall, was preceded by a procession fed by the alanaia Brass Baud, followed by returned soldiers, Territorials, Gin Guides, Boy Scouts and pupils of the .vLa-na.ia District High School. The had was packed’ to- its utmost capacity, and after Mr N. C. limes, who presided, briefly addressed the audience, the Rev. H. 0. Orchard conducted Lire servico, assisted by the Revs. C. W. Solomon and R. Miller.

Following the Lord’s Prayer and the hymn “0- God, OuriHqlp in Ages Past,’ a scriptural reading was given by the Rev. Mr Miller, and prayers- were offered by the Rev. Mr Orchard. Rudyard Kipling’s, hymn, “Recessional,” was sung by the" large concourse ac--oinpaiued by the’baud. The Rev. C. W. Solomon, an his,very iblc- address, said: Whatever b© the subject we choose to dwell upon this afternoon, we- ban not forget that the na-iiL thought in our minds ito-day, ana the main object’ o-f this, our service, is ,n© commemoration of a -deed —a glorious and famous deed —and the commemoration of the men who performed .t. And so you wiil pardon me if I just briefly recall that deed and say just a ew words about the men.

The feat or arms which was achieved oil a rock beach and scrub-grown cliff's of the Gallipoli Peninsula- in tin© grey morning of April 25, 1915, was a feat, we are assured-, wiioks© prowess lias never been outshone, lias scarcely e-vei oeen rivaled in military annals. As- trie- open boats, under a, hail from nidden guns, poured out their men in thousands, on the beach below -perpe-n----dicuar cliffs of tahg-ieci scruo, the task of breasting those insights 'to many expert eyes a, sheer impossibility, but by die dituntless courage and gallantry cu brave men, tlie- we-li-nigh impossibledealtwans accomplished, and fine record ol those, hours and the days which followed is now a -portion or Qua* Empire’s heritage for ever ,anci a portion that is particularly dear ana -sacre-a to us who dwell here. For, who '‘were they who performed this, feat? It was not the pi-oduct of the long discipline of so me veteran corps of soldiers. It was iroain,y the achievement of men from sheep stations of Australia, and the country and townships- of our own country, New Zealand, who a few -short months- before had no dream or warfare- as they vent about their ordinary work. But the call rang out and the response was ready, and the result you all know. No finer fe-ab of arms was ysrionne-d during the war than this sudden landing in the dark, the storming of the heights, and above all the holding on to the position thus won. It is -high praise, but the witness is true, and -those men from our own country, along with their Australian brethren, are now enrolled among the champions whom the Empire for generations to come will. der:,gih«> to -honour. But, of necessity, it was at fearful cast that these gallant deeds were done, and our service this at ter no-on speaks co us very clearly and reminds -us more especially of those of our brethren wh-o, in pursuit of the cause- they had sd iiit to further, laid down their lives. With the passing of time, we can onlv nope that the wounds caused by. tin severing of the Lies of relationship ana love have to -sum© extent been healed, and though their memories- aajo still as fresh as- over, thorp memories do. noa come down with that keenness of sorrow and anguish of -spirit that they could not fail to cause at first a-s each Anzac Day came round. No, while still we mourn their 10-s-s, and while still our hearts go- out in sympathy to those moist closely connected with them, the main note of our -service to-day is mot the note of grief, but rather the note of triumph. We rejoice to-day and thank God for that splendid self-sacrifice shown by th-o-se men, a self-sacrific which h-a-s meant so much to their country, and so much to us who know them. It was given to them in enthusiastic, eager, self-surrender, to reach what Christ marks a-s the highest grade of human love-—‘“Greater love- hath no man than tins, that a, man lay down his -life for his friends.” Gratefully and reverently fhpn we remember -that heroism now. That is what -brings ms here to-day far thanksgiving and prayer. At the conclusion of the- Rev. Solomon’s address, the hymn “For All the Saints” was s-ung bv the audience, after which -the Rev. It. Miller sang the- solo “Requiem.” One miniite’-s silence, by I all standing, brought the ceremony a-t the hall to- a close, and a procession was formed which marched to the monument- in the Octagon, where the hand rendered the hymn “Abide with Me.” A -symbolic tribute to the fallen was placed on the monument by Mr J. H. Anderson, the burial .service being apad by the Rev. O. TV. Solomon. “The Last Port.”’ sounded by Bandmaster J. A. G. Cosgrove, brought the ce-ermony to a close. Many beautiful wreaths from residents and relatives of the fallen heroes of the wa-r were placed- upon the monument. including those .sent by the G-ilrl Guides, Bov Scouts and the Man-aiia .school children, *