IN MEMORY OF LORD KITCHENER.

North Otago Times, Volume CIV, Issue 13661, 1 September 1916, Page 2

IN MEMORY OF LORD KITCHENER.

MEMORIAL OAK'PLANTED AT MIDDLE SCHOOL,

The scholars, parents, and friends of the Middle School assembled yesterday afternoon to witness .the planting of a memorial oak in memory of the late Lord Kitchener. Prior to the function proper, the school committeemen, assisted by the headmaster, and scholars, planted about twenty . trees in the school grounds. These should relieve the grounds of some of the bareness and incidentally provide shelter for the scholars in summer.' The proceedings opened with itkew. National Anthem. Mr W. H. Wcstphalj " (chairman of the school committee)!* who presided, welcomed the gathering of friends. He hoped the girls and boys would look upon the oak as ii sacred trust and tend the tree that was to if) planted, They.had planted a number of trees around'the grounds with the object, of giving the boys a lesson in horticulture, and also to beautify the grounds. On behalf of the committee and teaching staff, he welcomed the parents ami friends; .It gave him great pleasure to call upon the Rev. ¥ .S. Hunter to plant the memorial oak. After declaring the oak "well and truly planted" the : Rev. P. S. Hunter delivered an appropriate address. Mr Hunter said lie wished especially to speak to ihe,girls and boys. They had assembled to commemorate the life work of the late Earl Kitchener by planting an oak tree in the school grounds. He referred to the passing of the great soldier, and paid a tribute to Lord Kitchener's work in're-organising the British army. Jt was fitting that they should remember the man who had done so much for the nation, and he hoped the boys and girls, as they" saw the tree growing each day, would remember Lord Kitchener ami learn many lessons from his life-work; Referring briefly to the late Lord-Kitchener's early' life, Mr Hunter said that the lirst fighting-the great soldier had seen was in the Franco-Russian war. He fought on the side of the French against the Prussians. Reference was made to tlio late, Earl's work in Asia Minor, and his subsequent conquest of the Sudan, his command in South Africa, and his great work in nation-building in Egypt ajid ..India. , -The speaker marked'that it was fortunate that the P late. Earl was in England at the out- ,' break of the great war, and that he " had. in response to Mr.Asquith's pressing'request, accepted the difficult position of Secretary of State for War. Mr Hunter said there were many lessens they could learn from Lord Kitchener's life, The wonderful union of South Africa was mainly.due to Hie way in . which Lord Kitchener had dealt with the Dutch people. His straightforwardness and thoroughness had prepared the way for" a peaceful settlement, at the close of the war. it was a touching tribute To Lord Kitchener's work in South Africa that his erstwhile enemy, General Botha, should have mourned the loss of the great soldier. 'Lord Kitchener's great work in Egypt was known the world over. The "White Governor," as • he had been called,' had conquered the Nile and had enacted legislation that uplifted the ordinary man,, The common people of Egypt would remember Lord Kitchener with pride and gratitude for the many reforms he had introduced during his stay in Egypt. The great soldier had also served his coun- ■ try nobly and well in India, while it was due to his advice that the Australian and New Zealand' territorial scheme had been established and developed. And last but not least, Mr Hunter reminded the boys'- and girls, Lord Kitchener had built. >p a great army in England of live million men who. were fighting for Britain. Mr Hunter impressed upon the girls and boys that there were many lessons they could loam from the late Earl's life. When the boy Kitchener had gone to school, ho was just an ordinary boy. There was nothing about him that distinguished him from other boys, and nobody would have picket! him out as a specially clever lad, He was certainly not a genius, But thorc was something Jh the young Kitchener that assured liim success, Me was very thorough. He was careful about details,. lie. was not earless. He was not like some boys and girfo who were very enthusiastic for a t'cw'daya and having half finished thoir work would just throw it up ami look for sonic other work. The boy Kitchener left nothing to chance—he was care-, fill, thorough and persevering. He I never looked for success but his devotion to duty made success a certainty. Another lesson they could learn was front the fate Earl's unselfishness. He had won fame and fortune and had been honoured by his country. All these were unsought, Some boys sought success, but they did not iiiind whether they trampled over the other boys or not, "Lives of great men all remind us, tvo can make our lives sublime," the speaker quoted, and drew a .lesson from the Into Earl's courage,'perseverance, devotion to duty, and his thovoughm.'M. He thought a stanza from TeniWsoVs Ode on the Death of the Duke of Wellington fittingly expressed-thoir feelings towards the late Earl: Heiiicinbcr him who led your hosts; lie bad you giiard the sacred coasts, Your cannons moulder on the seaward wall; His voice is silent in your council hall For ever; and wlm'tooer tempest's lour ,

For ever silent; even if they broke, In thunder, silent: yet remember nil • lie spoke among you, and the Man who spoke. And'so, Mr Hunter concluded, when flic (rjrls and hoys came to school they would sec Hie Kitchener memorial oak. ami learn from the life of the great soldier the many lessons his woi'K" i'or the Umpire taught them. (A|i|ilausc)' The scholar!) rendered several musical selections, and drill displays were given by the elder girls and boys. In response to Mr Hunter's request the chairman of the committee iiniiouiiefid that the school would be closed the following day, and the function concluded, t -j "f