Palmerston Doings.

Free Lance, Volume XV, Issue 789, 13 August 1915, Page 7

Palmerston Doings.

Dsas Chkisxabel,—

WE met on the 4th of August to rejoice over the great bravery and achievements of our troops, to mourn over the loss of many, and to pray for peace, and we can only hope that many Augusts may not pass before we meet to celebrate the close of this tragic chapter in the world's history and welcome in a long period of peace and prosperity.

At intervals throughout the day services of intercession were held. A solemn requiem Mass for the soldiers fallen in battle, with special prayers for peace, was celebrated at. St. Patrick's Church early in the morning. Several services were held at All Saints during the day, and in the evening the Ministers' Association held a combined service at St. Andrew's Presbyterian. Church.

All the offices, shops and schools were closed in the afternoon, and. the public ceremony in the. Square brought several thousand people out, the bright sunshine, no doubt, being an added attraction.

The band led off a procession, m which the newly-formed National Reserve was Conspicuous. Many children and not a few grown-ups were keenly disappointed because the "real'' soldiers did not parade as advertised. • However, adoring Iwives and small fry. gazed proudly at "Pa" as he marched pasit. That he gave an occasional hop to* get back into step with the others, or when he dressed hik. line from the front that the rear aspeQt - was sadly out of plumb, in no way detracted from the splendour of Dad's first public parade.

Hundreds of school children were lined up round the Band Rotunda, where the Mayor and Ministers and other important personages sat, with the ladies of their household. „ A programme of prayers, hymns, and addresses was gone through, which lasted about two hours, and the sun had dipped behind the buildings before we sang the National Anthem, and with the virtuous feeling of being 'true patriots we went home and began on a fresh pair of socks.

Reverting to the subject of the National Reserve, this galiant band was on the Show Ground the other ■evening by some of the newly appointed Non-Coms. in camp here. These N.C.O.'s, with their own initial gruelling stiHl well in mind, put our Home Defenders through their paces with little mercy for age or infirmity, and for two solid hours they worked! as many of them ..had never worked before. One hero of some 60 odd years confided to a friend next morning that he was afraid he would never get his back straight again. Another ancient, who was pulled uip shortly on parade for not doing with his feet the 'things he ought to do, remarked quite frankly, "I could do it,/ sir, but I'm standing in a hole.''

On Friday evening the High School Old: Girls held their annual dance. From a "small and early" in the schoolroom it developed into a full-grown danco,

and requests for invitations for the men in camp poured in to the secretary. Id was decided at the last moment to hold jfc in the Empire Hall, and even this was sorely taxed to accommodate the huge crowd. The glamour of brass buttons and khaki overshadows all else at present, and the man in mufti was very little in evidence.

The Recreation Hall for the troops, with lits nightly supper, is increasing in popularity, and the committee are haying a busy time. On Friday night Mrs. Chaytor, wife of the gallant Colonel .who has just been mentioned for distinguished service at Galiipoli, and' who is now in England recuperating. and Mrs. Trask, provided and supervised the supper, and about 200 men availed themselves of the comforits of the Hall. Some local ladies contributed songs, as well as several of the men in camp, and the piano lent by Mr. Jack Strang—a beautiful flat grand—was much in demand during the evening.

A dance is being given next Friday night for the men in camp on the Show Ground.. It was intended to take them backts to Trentham early next week, but wise counsel has evidently prevailed, and their departure has been postponed for another week or two. The men are very healthy, happy and comfortable here, and none too eager to make the change. The Trents and the Reinforcements, who have not a deep and abiding love for one another, will be entertained separately in this respect, andi as the Liverpool's Own will be with us for some time yet a farewell dance will be organised, for them in all probabilitiy before they finally leave. * * #" » There are some few who think this Is not a time for dances and such frivoltirties, as they lightly put it. Perhaps not. in the ordinary sense, but these are special circumstances. Just one year ago, but a few days, we gave a dance to the Main Body alt Awapuni before they left for an unknown destination. It was their last dance in New Zealand —in fact, the laslfc dance for many of them —'and they enjoyed it most thoroughly. We are doing all we can to give them a little pleasure . before they go out to face the hardships and' dangers ahead. We give them music, literature, stopper, and various entertainments, to help make life pleasanter, and, if they wish it—and they do —then why not a danoe?

Private Leddra Le Gallais, who was killed in the Dardanelles, was a cousin of Mrs. Bos worth, of Palmerston North. The Le Gallalis, apparently, come of a fighting family. An uncle, Colonel Le Gallais, was killed in South Africa, and another member of the same family is a general in the French armv. There is another brother in camp here with the N.C.O.'s of the Bth Reinforcements.

This week another Palmerston boy was added to our Roll of Honour. This was Serjeant Harold Childs, son of Mr. T. Childs. Sergeant Chiilds began his education, at the Campbell-street. School, which can already claim Captain Harry Palmer and Lieutenant Gray among its

silent heroes, and later he went to Wellington College. Beside being dux of the college, he was captain of the cricket and football teams. Later he went to study mining engineering at the Otago University. and he was so engaged when the war broke out. He enlisted in the Dunedin Infantry, and took part in the memorable _ landing at Gallipoli, where he was twice wounded.

When in hospital at Alexandria, Sergeant Childs was recommended for a commission, but he died of enteric on hiis way hack to the front, and was buried at sea. Of exceptionally fine physique, clever and popular, Harold Ohilds had crowded into his short span of 22 years a splendid record in both scholarship and sport, and_ his short but successful life was terminated in defence of his King and his country. And . how .could a man dlie better?

Colonel Potter, who is now Inspecting ,Camp Commandant, wag in Palinerston last week.

Mrs. li. R. Bryant died this week in Palmerston. Mrs. Bryant was very well known in this district, where she had lived for many years. Her has taken an active part in local _ politics, and has been a member of various connoils which preside over "the roads and! drains of our county district, and. keep the country apace with the town. Ow-

ing to Mrs. Bryant's failing health,. Mr. .Bryant sold his farm at Fitaherbert a short time ago and cam© to live in town. - * * * «• The by-law enforcing the carrying of bicycle bells has been revived with great .suddenness, and quite a number of cyclists have been fined. On© man protested very strongly against this regulation, but his wordy -protest in no way convinced the* Bench or lessened Hia fine. Now he carries a bicycle bell, but he carries it under his seat, where it is attached to the saddle bar, and he feels he has Jin some way outwitted the Law. .There certainly are some queer fish m the sea —and out of it. 45- * * * ■ ' Mrs. G. Bird, who has been, spending a month in Palmerston, has returned to Eastbourne. Your friend. AWAFUNI.