OUR HONOURED DEAD

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIV, 14 December 1921, Page 4

OUR HONOURED DEAD

TAPAWERA SOLDIERS' MEMORIAL UNVEILING CEREMONY LAKGE AND REVERENT GATHERING Tapawcru's tribute to lier honoured dead was publicly dedicated yesterday afternoon in tho presence of a largo nttendanee of settlors. A pleasing feature of the occasion was the presence of school children, who mustered in full force from the school to tlio memorial, carrying with them several wreaths which were reverently placed, ;dong with many others, at the iooti or the Memorial pit™. Among those pre H ent wee th(.« J.Jishoi> of Nelson, Hon. W. \V. Snodgi';?«s, Crs A. Prumimind,GMa.<mabon, 11. 0. ferryman, Rev. 11. L. Manures, uud Messrs N. A. Vercoe (secretary). A. Kidson, and C Spear, representing the Executive Committee of the Returned Soldiers' Association. Tele-rams of apology were read irom Mr R P. Hudson, M.P. for the district, 'and Mr .I*. Host, Chairman of the Waiinca County Council. p , The Memorial takes the form of a recreation ground, with imposing (/■iiteo at tin; entrance ou whicii are Hi scribed the names of those from the district—fifteen in number—who raaiio the supreme sacrifice. . ; €r A Drummond (chairman or thoMemorial Vinidl Committee) presided, and in welcoming the Bishop visitors, said that mo«t of tlioyouuK met. who had gone from the dwtritt took part in sport, and it was thought. that a recreation ground, would form a fittiin' memorial to their memory. Mr N \. Vercoe, after apologising for the unavoidable absence of Dr W. T) Stonev .Johnston (president) and Mr W. C. ilnvley (vice-president) on behalf of the RS.A,, blumked tho Committee for the invitation to ho present and for the opportunity to pajr ,] u > Wociation's tribute to the memory of those men fiom the district who had lost their lives. Immj. men •ere our brothers in arms,'and no one mora respected their *» r ' ter knew the spirit ot then- sacrifice. One of the finest aspects of at my 1 wis the spirit it engendered, and if the supreme sacrifice could expiess * Si it would bo that that comradeship should be enlarged, that the Sd would be better and that tho , cSple would show a better gujfof reconciliation. Ho trusted Ah&± tj°s© to whom the fallen were would wain some solace from .tlio 3c«4 of the cheerfulness of their See, from the luiowledge that ■ the.principles for. which they fought and died were being /™«f + f^ v , nl . j 1 I the world to-day, and .that thei woild, wnuld V better bv their sacrifice ioi ioTiildreland^rcliildrenls;chi^

IC Hon WYW.-Snodgrass .considered it K Vrrcat privilege to bo present Alv H L\ Hudson (member ior the I strict) the speaker said that 1 on bucli intr c wore more than could, no «a S4d But he did think that a man ho could nob say that i-oj as J T c vas oliito certain that the sacrtfee thoy made wis made because thought it was their duty .to mjw < it And those who came'back, totally feared were entitled, when opporS?offered, ta the^r^st^ , d he knew the spirit that was theirmi»ds, winch they gave eliec- o '.vhp deeds. And lie was sure ,1 at iJi ,» ,t ..J -«r 0 by their noble !Sf crifSwoukl be'handed down Jo another, and. counted it the greatest privileges oi us We to. &^-«^?'£ wished to mako more particularly to four' qualites which dlustrate tih«. WirstJv the wonderful cheei.roiness oi he nien-thev treated the war a* f Seat -me oflife; secondly, the ciuluW wH which they treated women in foe alike; their courage and fhl-sacriiSce.' The speaker aptfr* lustrated each of las points aiid on to say that our men inc.' to cive their lives foi tne M ** wse thev espoused, and they did t soldiers we musttheir sake we must do 'our beat lm tn peace, and happiness oi J %L m evermore." „ , v„in"' was The hymn, "0 God our help then sung, after which Canon JJa road the lesson from the *lsu ciiapv of Revelations. „ mwoil*The Bishop of Nelson, t J nv a ° t d "iuo- the Gates, said he washed to- aw* hi? to the district in erecting the,« to the soldiers who fejl War. It had been said character might be fnorial W ;,■> +lip 'district would increase tine t>px ritual momentum of tho community. KSffhad other and in these two gates . * be X b^ 1 +iin hnnortant facts wluch we bhouia >-oeo S mii d. The other speakers had £ referred to the yaMj work • which the soldiers had done. They had Sed to the comradeship, and some | „ s 4ie filled with dav that we in some measure: shared i, y tho wonderful) fellowship of suffei- ,/ "But I think," went on his L6iJsluo ''that one of the matters wluch ouS,t to he instilled in the rnrnds, .particularly of the young people » these memorials speak to us « ■ gj debt which wo can "eycr rcna> W sneak to us of tho high idea 1* pos S 'hv the boys.who Avcnt toJg front; of the splendid.^™ + Iho <?£• sacrifice which they placed at the d* of the r country ana empire, ihpv iieak 11. us of the magnificent aSroment in which some laid down We own these men a deo« wluoli.wo cm never repav. .Then there rs a second Those pret for us the wonderful tact tha. our

Sorrows aiul pains arc transtorred by time. Wc am apt to forget that it js from pain and suffor.in.jf irn have received the greatest blessings of our lives. Froiii blood nod tears wo inherit our freedom in political liio; from tears and blood wo have wrung our religious freedom; and it js from Borrow and pain that wo get die greatest treasures of all. In tins eoniicetam the Bishop referred to the. death oS Sir ■Arthur Pearson, who was described as diio of the most helpful ami generous benefactors in the world We. were indebted to this man's sidiermg ior Die splendid work of St. Dunstnns in which some of our own soldiers who. had been deprived of their eyesighthad learned how in keep 'themselves occupied and happy. Pain and sorrow produced i'or us the iiueah and noblest ideals lit concluding the Bishop referred to the- future in optimistic +erms. We had a danger just mnv known as a slump . There, was no need to the iu a state of panic W hat we wanted was steady confidence in God, and faith iu Him to perioral our duty and earrv on, and «s> try t<> fulfil too message'which was brought before us to-dav by these two pillars - the message of proving worthy ol tho im » who foil. .., ~, Pravor was offered bv her. Manures; after which the Bishop unveiled the memorial gates. While the hymn, H.,od <<! <ui Fathers." was being sun-. I lie r«Matives and friends of those whose mu.ies wore inscribed on the marble la Wet came forward and reverently placet! iloral tributes on the memorial ! The "Last. Post." was sounded, by Mr J Fowler, after- which a solemn silence was observed for a few mo-j luents. Tho National Antnem wa* then snug and an impressive ceremony concluded .

Airs Kyles played tho accompaniments to the hymns. Tho memorial, which consists ot a recreation ground, with handsome itatcs of Wangapeka Kraiiito, was subscribed to freely hv the people, ol the district .about £265 in all being given. All the labour in getting tho ground cleared and fenced was given .voluntarily bv tho settlors, who are to be 3teart.il y* congratulated on the achievement of their object. The gate pillars were erected by Mr Peterson, and Messrs Millar and Sons supplied the marble tablets and worked the inscriptions. Thc Committee responsible ior the work were Mrs Hudson Messrs A. Dmmmoml (chairman Iv. B. GoodalU J Smith, A. Steer, S. Wadsworth, A. A Biff's. A. Kinzett, and the energetic secretary, Miss Hudson. Later iu is intended to lay out the grounds m tennis courts and cricket pitches; \ffcer the ceremony a sumptuous nttcmoon tea was provided m the spacLshall. Thrt taldes were prettdy decorated with flowers, and a J large number of visitors and! otheib too! advantage of the kindlyJiognta - tv offered. Tho residents of the d ,ti k t have every reason for congratulation at tho manner in which tho day passed off The following inscription appears on one of tho marble tablets:— . "Tapawera. Soldiers' Memorial Park. "In memory of those who fell in the 'Great War : "19M4918 "Greater Love hath no man than this." „ . On the other tablet tho lollowiug name* appear: — , Lieut, R. B. Macmal.on. tindLt. A. If nelson. Corporal L. J- Rinsect t. 'Private F. A. Kigft.*Private F. A. K. Private K. .1. I'Vnemure. Private P. RiekeUs. Private S. ilannen. Private K. Murray. Private 1-1. PhillipsPrivate A. J. Taylor. Private F, J. Taylor. Private W. F. Taylor. Trooner J. Hanncii,, Trooper F. G. indson-