POKENO MEMORIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17765, 26 April 1921, Page 6

POKENO MEMORIAL.

UNVEILING CEREMONY. ADDRESS BY MINISTER, OBLIGATIONS TO THE SOLDIER [lir TELEGRArn.-OWN COnRESrONDENT.] PUKEKOHE, Monday. An impressive ceremony took place at Pokeuo to-day, when the Hon. G. J. Anderson, Minister for Labour and Mines, presided at tho unveiling of tho war memorial and roll of honour erected on the Market Square, Pokcrio, at the corner of the Great South Road and the Thames Road. Tho mqnuniont, which stands 15ft. liigh, has a concrete base 4ft. deep and 9ft. square, built up with large boulders which were collected during the Maori War by Imperial troops for other purposes. The four flights of steps and the column are built of Australian stone, whOo tho block, containing the 50 names of men who loft tho district, including 12 who fell, is of Coromandol granite. Inscribed on the obelisk is tho following :t-" Respectfully dedicated to tho memory of our glorious dead and in honour of those Britons who served with them, 19.14-J919, by the Pokeno residents. 'For us they fought. For us they fell.' " In tho course of an address, Mr. Anderson said they had come i;o do honour to tho gallant men who had given their lives that thoir fellow-citizens might live in freedom and independence. Ho trusted that in futuro Ansae Day would still bo looked upon as an eventful day, and that April 25, 1915, would never bo forgotten. The men who wont forward to the great conflict sacrificed everything in order that tho country could continue to enjoy freedom, justice and prosperity Now that they had returned after upholding the Empiro's traditions, wo at home must make sacrificea to meet our obligations and assist them in difficult finus. No promises were mado when they wont away, but promises had been made since thoy roturned, and he urged upon all to put their shouldors to tho whoel to eeo that tho promises wero fulfilled. In conclusion, he congratulated tho Pokeno residents on the very fine monument, and called on Mrs. Anderson to perform the unveiling ceremony, which she did whilo the large assemblage stood bareheaded.

Tho " Last Post" was sounded by a returned soldier. EDENDALE SCHOOL CEREMONY. MEMORIAL GATES UNVEILED. Tho iron memorial gates erected at the Edendale school in memory of former scholars who participated in the war, were formally opened yesterday afternoon in tho presence of a large gathering of parents, scholars, and residents. Among thoso present were Mr. G. W. Murray and Mrs. Ferncr, representing tho Education Board, and Mr. T. B. Clay, Mayor of Mount Albert. The Defence Office was represented by Lieut. R. S. Judson, V.C., and tho Returned Soldiers' Association by Captain A. C. A. Sexton. Tho gates, which make a handsome entrance to the school grounds, are surmounted by the school motto : "Play the Game," and arc flanked on cither side by concrete pillars, each of which has a marble tablet bearing 20 names, 40 in ail, of former scholars and teachers. Five of these made the supreme sacrifice. The pillars were appropriately draped for tho occasion. The chairman of the S<:hool Committee, Mr. J. Carrie, who presided, referred to the fact that the school had only been opened six years when the war began, so that it bad a creditable war record. Mr. Murray, who performed the ceremony of unveiling the pillars and declaring the gates open, congratulated the school on the form the war momorial had taken: ''What better," he said, "than gates—gates leading along the pathway of learning." Surely, ho said, those whose memory was revered there held tho gates; they protected the road that l«d to liberty, iho pathway to wisdom, that wisdom which should make it impossible for another such war to scourge the world.

Mr. O. A. Semadeni, headmaster of the scliool, Mr. George Higgott, a member of the committee, Lieut. Judson, V.C., and Capt. SexUm, also addressed the gathering. The school children, led by Mr. Semadeni, rendered Kipling's "Recessionol." As a tribute to the fallen, a thirty seconds of silence was observed by the assemblage. During the ceremony little Gwcn Higgott placed a fem wreath at tho foot of one pillar, while Master Douglas Fletcher deposited a laurel wreath at the other. The National Anthem concluded the proceedings. MEMORIAL AT PAPAKURA. TABLET IN PARISH CHURCH. A memorial to fallen soldiers of the Papakura district was unveiled in tho parish church, Papakura, last ovening by Sir Frederick Lang, Speaker of. the House of Representatives. The Anglican Bishop of Auckland, Dr. A. W. Averill, delivered a dedicatory sermon, and the vicar, the Rev. W. C. Woods, assisted in the service. The tabjet, which is inscribed with the names of 45 men, is on similar lines to that in St. Matthew's Church. The tablet is at present in tho sanctuary but when tho chancel of tho new church is built space will be allowed for its erection in its permanent site. The choir sang the anthem, "What Aro These?" and a quartette sang " Crossing the Bar."

IN OTHER CENTRES. GENERAL OBSERVANCE. CENOTAPH AT WELLINGTON. Anzac Day was celebrated throughout tho Dominion yesterday. 'In Wellington a children's servico was held at a cenotaph, which had been erected outside the grounds of tho rarliamentary Buildings, and tho little ones brought with, thom numerous wreaths and floral emblems. During the day thousands visited the cenotaph and laid their tributes at its foot. Majiy of tho wreaths wero later taken to tho Karori cemetery and placed on the graves of soldiers there. In t.ho afternoon an impressive memorial service was held in the Town Hall.

At Christchureh a parade oi returned soldiers, territorials, and cadets, marched through crowded streets to the King Edward barracks, where a combined memorial service was held in the afternoon. Many wreaths wcro deposited in the cathedral, where very large! vattended services were held ' throughout tho day. . Anzac Day was celebrated in Hamilton by a memorial service in Kowhai Memorial Park. Flowers wcro laid at tho foot of tho memorial trees in tho park. Special services were also hold in (ho churches. Anzac Day was celebrated at Thames by a church paraclo, followed by a mornorial service in the King's Theatre. Tho parade, was ali ended by returned soldiers, cadets, boy scouts, the fire brigade, mombors of tho* Thames Old Boys' Association, *nd local bodies, and tho .Regimental and Hauraki brass bands. The procession was headed by a gun carriage covered in wreaths. At tho memorial service- Lord Jcllicoe, in an impressive address, referred in glowing terms to tho exploits of Now Zealand troops at Gallipoli. Addresses were also delivered by the Revs. A. Mitchell, 0. P. F. Jones, j'. Milne, and E. H. Taylor, and Captain Atherfold, of the Salvation Army. During the service His Excellency was pre- ' sented with n handsome native mat. and mere by n Maori chieftainess, To Reitc - Tuma. All the returned men were presented to His Excellency at the conclusion.