NATIONAL RESERVE

Marlborough Express, Volume L, Issue 86, 11 April 1916, Page 7

NATIONAL RESERVE

SPUING CREEK UNIT.

CHORCH PARADE.

Or.-o of tliJ most successful gatherings held in connection, with the National- Reserve movement * took* plnc-s at -Spring Creek on Sunday, •when an «>pen-air church parade was hold. The Blenheim Reserve Baaid, Mr E \V. Rose, attendeil at the invitation of the Spring Creek ■unit, innd headed the parade, iron; .Spring Creek junction txv Messrs Itobortson and Mills's grain store paddock, where seating aocommodalion nad tteen provided by the Anglican • Church authorities, including ;• collection of. empty boxes which <lid duty as a temporary pulpit. The itev. "W. *W.'»llstein, chaplain to the vnit, officiated, and delivered a forcei«l sermon, dealing with various phoKos'of the present great struggle. Before concluiling, .he-made a strong sipp:.tl to his hearers to invoke Divhie assistance rather than.trust sinti leave eveiything. to -. our ' alll)o>vc.:*ful ileet and the Allied armies. Special hymns were" selected for •the occasion, and were splendidly rendered by thf-. band.

" At the 'conclusion #f tihe service, 'various member.-; of the unit and iritoids invited tlie members of the hand to theii1 homes for dinner.

At 2.30 p.m. the band commenced ji programme of music to one of the larf-sst gatherings held at Spring Co; '.»k. During an interval, Mr J. 31. Lightfoot .'innounced that a collection would be taken up in aid of <-nc of the greatest causes in connecii.on with the present .war—the Red Cross work.' Two returned soldiers fici'.d i\fi 'x>llectm-s, namely, Private A- CJridley (who left with the Main K'M'y) and Private Ranirra Kerei vDiui Grey), of the Wairau Pa, late Fir.sl- Maori Contingent. The result ■ <-f 1 lie effort amounted to the sum of ':11 9s, including £2 odd as the nir.o nt donated out of Ihe collection from, tho .service.

Ucfore the gathering dispersed, Mr G. H. J. Bott, iv behalf of t]ie unjt, yimvu'oly- thiuiko-i the public for the lihc:-:»l suport accorded, and also the hand for the valuable services they had rendered.