IN HONOUR OF EARL KITCHENER.

North Otago Times, Volume CIV, Issue 13667, 8 September 1916, Page 2

IN HONOUR OF EARL KITCHENER.

MEMORIAL OAK PLANTED. . An interesting ceremony was performed at tho ~ tli School yesterday afternoon, when a memorial o'ak was planted to perpetuate the memory, of the late Earl .Kitchener. There was a large attendance. Mr James Mitchell, chairman of the committee, who presided, apologised for the absence of Messrs Husb'atc.h and G. Jones, two members of the school committee.

After band selections and the singing of "Keep the Home Fires.Burning," Mrs N. Meldruni, an ex-pupil of the school and wife of one of the oldest members of the committee, planted the memorial oak.

A display of drill and physical exe: cises-and selections by the band follov cd, after which the scholars were groii) ed under the flag and were '-iuldresse by the Kev. J. A. Lochore and Mr . Mitchell.

Mr Mitchell said they had planted the ,oak. in order that there should be transmitted to future generations the lessons to be learned from tho life of the late Earl,, who had been a great mau in his d'ay and generation.. Lord Kitchener had always discharged his duty to. the nation and his thoroughness had made him- honoured among men and'they' all regretted that he had not seen the fruition of the great -work lie had begun, Tlie reason they' had planted lan.oak to the memory; of the late Earl -was because the • oak typified l British character—it possessed strength and durability and 'was capable of withstanding 'all the storms of the elements. He enjoined the boys and girls to protect the tree they had planted and learn many lessons from the life and death of Lord Kitchener.

The Rev. J. Lochore briefly addressed I the gathering. He .said the' leading characteristic of Lord Kitchener's strenuous and useful life was that lie li'ad never turned his back on duty. The sacred calls of duty had become almost ■t passion, with tiie great soldier, and lie hoped the" boys and girls would accept duty as their watchword, and witii.duty they would develop efficiency, lie was sure that-the late War Minister-would have -appreciated their action in planting aii oak. The oak was different in memorials in stone and wood.' The tree tjpitted life and would go on growing a better trco every day, Ho referred to Lord Kitchener's work in France and Egypt, .and remarked that Lord Kitchener seemed always to be on the spot where ho wits needed, The life of the late Earl was a lesson to them in many ways, and he hoped they would remember his great work for the Empire, and that tliey would do their duty conscientiously and well and all try to become mora efficient as the days went by. Cheers were -given for the King and Empire, and the 1 function, ended.