BONDS CEMENTED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23027, 3 May 1938, Page 13

BONDS CEMENTED

UNEXPLAINABLE SPIRIT SCENES TIME WILL NOT DIM PROUD NEW ZEALANDERS [by TELEGRAPH —OWN correspondent] WELLINGTON. Monday "No words of mine could adequately describe the events or impressions of this wonderful trip that has just ended, because underlying it all an unexplainable spirit existed," declared the Hon. Vincent Ward, M.L.C., a member of the Anzac contingent, who returned by the Monowai. "This spirit was apparent in my ship as soon as we sailed froiu Wellington.

; "Men from nil walks of life and from | all parts of New Zealand greeted one another aboard, all cheerful and, happy, with, as I say, some indefinable spirit . which was in everyone's heart," said Mr. Ward, "and that spirit never left i us' throughout this memorable and historic trip. Never once did I hear a 1 growl or complaint or a bad word spoken. One man lost his wallet in the crowd at Wellington and when this was known everyone aboard subscribed to refill it. First Day In Sydney "We arrived at Sydney on the Saturday morning, and marched lour abreast to the Cenotaph, in Martin's Place. We were all proud of one another and of New Zealand. We marched well, and we looked well in dark suits and grey hats, and all wearing the same ties of silver and black. Thousands of Australians intermingled with the New Zealanders and seemed to take us to their hearts and cheered and clapped as we walked along. At the Cenotaph I believe every man had a queer feeling in his throat and a watery eye, which he hoped no one would notice. "Then we walked to the Trocadero. where 2000 sat down to lunch and were welcomed by the Governor, the deputy-Premier, the Lord Mayor, generals and others. Our own leaders in j reply again made us feel proud of our" selves and New Zealand. Magnificent Hosts 'After lunch we were at the mercy of the people of Sydney. The gesture I to Australia of so many New Zealanders j crossing to take part in their Anzao garade had an effect that I would not ave believed possible. They just took u$ right to their hearts. As hosts they were truly magnificent. Every New Zealander received hospitality and good fellowship far beyond all expectations. "Monday was Anzac Day. Many of us had no sleep that night, as our Australian hosts entertained us until well after midnight. At 3 a.m. we were all standing in fours on the wharf and joined those from the Matinganui, and so some 1400 men marched through the streets. Reverent Crowds "At the ceremony thousands and thousands of people were present and ■ stood in silence but for the trumpet sound, hymns and .an eloquent sermon," said Mr. Ward. "I looked at the 1 faces and eyes of those around me and I witnessed such reverence that it made us all just think it was wonderful. By 5.30 we were back aboard. "At 6.30 we started breakfast, and at 8 a.m- we were in fours again on the wharf. We ma relief again to Mac- ! quarrie Street and for an hour or : more we stood there in our place of honour, bestowed upon us bv the Australians, at the top of the parade. Australian 'Diggers' from all parts of that great continent marched past us and took up their places behind us in the parade, and so eventually, with bands playing, 45,000 marched through streets lined with over 750,000 people. It took over two hours, with the men marching 12 abreast, for the proces- y sion, seven miles long, to pass a given ' point. i "So we arrived in Sydney's domain, 1 a huge grass common. At one end was a dais, on top of which were loud- j speakers placed fan like, and from ■ these orders, serious and amusing, | were given direct to the parade, and ( thousands and thousands of onlookers. < Diyijie service* commenced at 11 o'clock. This took 20 minutes in nil. The National Anthem was then played. All Friends Together "Australia had paid its reverence, and true and sincere reverence, and it was then changed to joy, and such honest and open-hearted joy that it would ho impossible to describe," Mr. Ward continued. "All hotels were opened and everyone drank the light beer of Australia and greeted old and new friends. Everyono was a friend and ' Diggers,' policemen, mothers, fathers, daughters and boys of Sydney let themselves out wholeheartedly to make merry. They played 'two-up' in the streets and policemen joined in. "The days that followed Anzac Dav were days we will always carry with us as a pleasant dream," said Mr. Ward. "Wo were showered with hospitality and kindness, and trips and entertainments were arranged. All ' doors were opened to us. On Thursday night we were all aboard again to return across the Tasman. The send-off we received from the wharf in Sydney was on a par with everything efse that was crowded into five wonder-

ful days. The inexplicable spirit aboard when we left Wellington still remained, and the same joy and happiness continued as before. So it is that wo return to New Zealand with memories which time will not dim. Return Visit "The kiwis have returned to their native shore, and in 1940 the kangaroos from Australia are crossing the. Tasman to help us qelebrate our Anzac iDay in the centennial year. We all want and we ask our New Zealanders who were not able to cross the Tasman to play their parts as hosts, so that we can try to give them, if possible, as good a time as they gave us. "I am satisfied that no previous event in our history has done more to bring about understanding between Australia and New Zealand. I was tokl this ija Australia, but without being told one had only to bo in Sydney to understand that something great had happened, and what has happened is a national understanding which all the talking of groat men and all the treaties signed could not have accomplished. "I would like to pay a tribute to the officers and crew of the Monowai," said Mr. Ward, in conclusion. "Nothing was a trouble to them, and we ttppreciatecPthei^fforWfilmmensely/'