OPUNAKE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXIX, Issue LXIX, 22 May 1915, Page 5

OPUNAKE.

GREAT PATRIOTIC MEETING

The Town Hall at Opunake was crowded last night on the occasion of the 'gi eat patriotic meeting organised to stimulate recruiting:.

The chair was occupied by Mr W. C. Dudley, Chairman of the Town Board, and there were associated with him the Hon. Mr Carncross, M.L.C., and Messrs Hornsby, M.P., Wairarapa, and Wilkinson, M.P., Egmont.

Humphries orchestra led in the National Anthem, and Mrs Knell gave that soul-stirring. recitation "The Day."

A patriotic film was then screened, after which Mr G. A. "Wilkinson addressed the audience and welcomed, on behalf of the people of that district, his brother parliamentarians. He made a stirring appeal to the young men to come forward and qtfer their personal' service to the Empire in the present great crisis. He referred to a visit he had made a year or two ago to Germany,. when Krupo's made the greatest exhibit of warlike material ever seen. He was then convinced that it was time for New Zealand to be up and doing, and be as prepared as much as possible for the inevitable day. He * appealed to their mothers also to make the great sacrifice, and not to hinder their sens enlisting and doing their duty to their Empire.

Mr Hornsby, who was received with Spplause, made a most eloquent and stirring speech. He told the audience that if he could touch their hearts to their deepest depths he would do it without hesitancy because he would like them to understand what was going on in reality in this awful war. He lucidly told of the events which 'ed up to it so that every man, woman ana diiid .would know that Britain's hands were absolutely clean and that she had done nverything that was humanely possible to avert the great calamity. He described the German carefujly-laid plans to crush the French iii just five days, and how the noble little Belgians had held up the German hosts for six weeks. How in that six weeks France had been able to mobilise and move forward her troops on to the frontier, and how Britain had been able to'send over biT first expeditionary force of a hundred and twenty thousand Tnet>. He graphically described how that British

force at Mons, foiv three days a&I nights, starring, bleeding and dying held the German hosts in check, and as every strategist knew, saved the French. army. Only half of that British force . remained to-day. "Aio you going to ' give them a hand?" appealed the speaker. "Every man who has a heart must feel lira*, he wo^id like io get there. "■ He hud recently seen a typewritten copy sent to the Belgian Consul describing some of the atrocities committed by the Germans. They wera unbelievable, unspeakable, and conid not even be talked of amongst men. The German Chancellor had said that they would make good any wrongs they* had done to the Belgians, but how wero> they going to give back the dead, and how were they going to restore peace of mind to the women and girls whom they had afflicted? The North American Indian, with his scalping knife, was a^ gentleman of cu'-tura alongside |h«3* (aerman brutes end worsg th^i t?!™!**. The awful gpfetaele c»uld {inly be seek through a mist of bleed and tgars, T h& oecple of New Zealand fead «?§((§ §§?# fices, bnt they lsU§fc g§ §B ffl&gffl^ SWK^&affer sacrifice, and he~appea^ to the young me n to go foWird£ fence of the Empire. He drew a vi*£ s™? jl^ of the Germans saiW woien m>ats an<l »«*ii»-- at tIS 2S dA%* nr%s of motiiers torn frbrii *Bfeir babies. He had seen accounts of where 'dozens ft babies had been take* out of the, water and laid on the shorn victims of the most contemptible peopla trod had ever permitted to curse this world of ours. He appealed to the young men of New Zealand to gd and Sget^f°me extent these awfi* ?fc i. eTt as a Possibility, although, God^not = a probability, or brermany.being victojtpns in this v^ar, and if that iSnouldVfiiippeb and our" tttt^came, ihow would they "mak» *- ppd'Mn^w^eS^^ Jaa to*d letters fronv tm-3&g* 2fea!ft»d b>yp whom.he kn^w ifrell, aM. mmdied^t thef)aMan«ltes, and • t£3M2^ Jwu w^^m© $pt >aa neiji xisX There was uT his digtridi-, mi elder!* and lonely widow, and all ncr famitvl save one son, lie buried in the W<M& vjl-e cemetery. Thk son, the sok> so*vivor of the family, wanted to go to the war, but he could not bear to tell his mother so. So he wrote ier a letter oa. the morning he went to town and laterfound his swag at the station and a letter from the old widow saying, "I know you want^to go to war; go, and God bless you." Here was this lonely widow willingly giving up her only son that he might go and do his duty to the Empire. Another old Scotch lady witk seven sons, was proud of the fact that they were all at the front, two witfc the Imperial troops and five at the Dardanelles, and she said that if she had seven more they would all go too. (Applause). Mr Hornsby reminded tfe younj^ men that Kitchener had said that he wanted an ar^ny of three million Britishers behind him when he* came to talk of peace. "When the war 19 over, those of you who go to tfce« front will be amcujrst the proudest of ' men because you will have a say in tlie> final settlement," concluded the sneaker. When Mr Horaisby resumed his seat he was" accorded a great round of applause and three ringing cheers were given him. . , . The Hon .Mr Carrcross followed Mr Hornsby, and in an excellent sDeech snßplemented the a-npeal for recrufte. Immediately following, and amidst; great enthusiasTn, four ■ yonrig men, v lz W. J. C. Campbell, Piharoa; N. C. Lord, Opunakfi; O. P. Cox Man^ahume; and L««. V. Haarten. Te Kiri— came forward and hand°d in their names for enlistment, and it is confidently expected that their example will be followed by many obhers in they next day or two. . .

NEW ZEALAND'S HOSPITAL SHIP.

GENEROUS DONATIONS. Mr Wilkinson, again addressing the meeting, said he desired to MrSress h» ■ipreciation of the magnificent and stirring speech made by Mr Horsnby, which, clearly showed the seriousness of the great struggle they were now engaged in. "We cannot all go to the war," said Mr Wilkinson, "but we cant all help those who are there." During the last few days it had been decided that New Zealand should send over a hospital 6hip, and he appealed to his audience to help equip *that ship and to eend a donation worthy of Opunake, and at the same time send a request to> the Government to send not one ship, but two. (Applause.) He desired to* make an offerJ namely, to subsidise £ for £ all the money raised in the room. up to £103 for that purpose—(applause)—and if the people of Opunake would now come forward, and either by cash or promsies - raise £100, Hs v cheque for another £100 wSuld te> available in the morning. (Applause.) The ship which New Zealand will send must be the best she can' give, thoroughly equipped, and accompanied by skilled medical men, (Cheers.)

Subscriptions lists w'er"e then taken, round the hall, and cash and promises mounted up to £90 14s 9d. Mr. Wilkinson thanked the people for their splendid response, and §aid that airtno'isch the total was a little short of! £100 his cheque for £100 would be available just the same. (Enthusiastic applause.) . .