SOLDIERS' GRAVES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15520, 30 January 1914, Page 8

SOLDIERS' GRAVES.

MEMORIAL TABLET UNVEILED WORK OF VICTORIA LEAGUE. [BX TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Hamilton; Thursday. As the result of the efforts of the Victoria League, a tablet has been erected by the Government in the Whatawhata Cemetery, in memory of those soldiers who died during the Maori war, and were buried there.At the unveiling ceremony' to-day there was a large gathering, ini eluding Mr. R. F. Bollard, MP. for Raglan—who performed the ceremony General Godleyj and a large number of officers, Miss Statham, Auckland, secretary of the Victoria League, and many leading residents, and members of the league. '■* Mr. F. E. Smith, who acted as master of ceremonies, welcomed the visitors, and apologised, for the absence of Mr. J. A. Young, member for Waikato, aid Mr. A. T. Manning, Mayor of Hamilton. Miss Statham briefly referred to the work the league was doing to* cement the bonds of Empire, and said she was glad j to assist in the work of attending fittingly to the soldiers' graves, undertaken by the Government. This was the first ceremony of the kind in the Waikato, but the! league would not rest until the work was "done thoroughly throughout the North Island. -She urged the claims of F > pire on all who stood for one bond, one flag, one King, and one Empire, and said that though in the twentieth century it was said sentiment was dead, when sentiment died the Empire would be dead. General Godley expressed his appreciation of the'work being done by the Vic* toria League. After his three years' association with the New Zealand forces, he felt assured that if the occasion arose again, the present forces would bear themselves as well as the veterans of the past. He could congratulate the oountry on the material of which New Zealand's army was composed. Mr. R. F. Bollard, after eulogising the work of the league, expressed regret at the past neglect of the soldiers' graves; hut he hoped this reproach would be now removed. He was, pleased at the recognition given to the veterans by the extension of the pension to, all medal holders but he hoped that all who had served, although not under fire, and the widows of the old warriors, would also receive the pension.