SCOTT MEMORIAL COMMITTEE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16663, 7 April 1916, Page 94

SCOTT MEMORIAL COMMITTEE

PRESENTATION OF PRIZES AT OAAtARU. Tho presentation of prizes in * connection with the Oamaru Scott Antarctic Memorial Committee took place yesterday afternoon. There was a splendid attendance, the Opera House being packcd. Mr W. H. Rose presided, and seats on tho platform were occupied by Captain Stenhouse (commander of tho Aurora), the Hon. J. A. Hanan, Mr E. P. Lee, M.P., tho Mayor of Oamaxu, tho rector of the Waitaki Boys' High School, and many leading citizens. Mr Rose explained the object of the meeting, which was to commemorate Captain Scott and his comrades, who perished in the Antarctic.

The Hon. Mr Hanan, who was greeted with hearty applause on rising to speak, said they sought to commemorate with all revcrence that little band of heroes the story of whoso sublimo courage and sacrifice could never fade from human 'memory. Away in tho blizzard-swept wastas of the Antarctic was a locely cairn marking the snot where the noblest band of. victims ever claimed by tho winding sheets of South Polar snows died on§ by one to the call of duty—faithful to the last. Tho whole story was one of simple, manly„ heroism, of suo ■ cess modestly achieved, of hardships faced with a courage and a fortitude that would inspire the sons of Britain for all time. Had Antarctic exploration done no moTe than give us the inspiration of the example to ' bo l found in the struggles and death of Captain Scott and his comrades, it could not bo said it was not worth while.- To-day the record of Captain Scott and his fellowheroes appealed to us with a new, t-hrill of inspiration. The farvivors of that memorable expedition, who had figured in ouf navy's strenuous work since the war began, had proved again and again how the lesson of that stern ordeal had l burned into their souls. Might they not say that the unconquerable spirit of Captain Scott held invisible sway over th 9 British navy in ita long sleepless vigil,, and that in the sister, service our soldiers who endured untoldl extremities irf shell-torn trenches were animated by the-spirit which inspired' Captain Oates in the strangely moving act by which in the losing of his life He exalted it? Those lone figures, lying stark and stiff, uncorrupt amjd the of Antarctica, were mighty preachers of the indomitable heroism of our race. Tho supremo lesson that came to us with appealing insietenoe was the lesson of discipline and duty. Was there any wonder that Britain ruled tho waves? Was there any misgiving that, when this troubled night of danger and the war storm was past, the flag of England would not hold its old pre-eminence in honour ae in victory? We asked wistfully if we had the moral fibre of our pioneer forefathers s- It might be said that the 40,000 New Zealandeis. who had cheerfully offered their lives for their country furnished sufficient answer, but he was not asking the question as regarded them. It was to the very, much larger number who could not go to tho front and the others who showed no purpose of offering themselves that this self-examination applied. The fact that sq many of the gallant sons of New Zealand had earned a recognition which -we could never repay or express should make us doubly bound to look well what corrupting influences might be weakening our efficiency as a nation, and by what means we could show ill the future that we were at least worth saving from the tender mercies of thfe Huns. It km not for the sake of gold that Soott and his fellow heroeS went out to reach the South Pole, and it was not for the sake of earning money. tha,t our brave boys went out to fight for King and the Empire, but to give out their best efforts for the good of others. In conclusion, ne referred to the gallant lads who a few years ago were' occupying the desks in the schools of New Zealand, including hundreds from the schools of North Otago and Oamaru. All of them had played the man in this grim ordeal of war. They had eo nobly upheld the traditions of our history at Gallipoli that to be an Anzac was to bear a wreath more honourable than crown or coronet. They were nobly upholding these traditions on the hills of Thrace, on the plains of Mesopotamia, on the dreary wastes of Western Egypt, and in the devastated fields of France. From these fighting men the appeal must touch us still more intimately;— tho mute appeal of their sacrifice in urging that we should not fail in. that discipline of self-denial and strenuous effort by which we might be worthy of having such, sons,* such brothers, such citizens of our cherished island homo. Captain Stenhouse, who was received vwith loud and prolonged applause, referred to cne or two members of Captain Scott's party who were now helping in the war. Ho paased over the spot where Captain Scott and comrades died. Ho read out portion of the last letter which Captain Scott wrote to Mrs Wilson with reference to her husband. He said he hoped to get away again in October, although they would have ) to wait outsido the ice until the gates' opened for them. The. prizes were presented by Captain Stenhouse. • . •'

People in the vicinity of Emerson street, Napier, at about a quarter past 10 one night Inst week were the witnesses of quite, an interesting scene, the principals in which ) were 17 Chinese (eays\ the Hawke's BayEverything was normal in the vicinity, when suddenly there arose a eubiduod murmur of voices. Instantly there shot out of a side lane a very excited and concerned' looking Chinaman in a Panama hat. Close in his wake N rushed 16 other Celestials gesticulating wildly. Tho gentleman in the van raced down the street with his 16 compatriots hot in pursuit. His sprinting powers were, not of the best, for very shortly he was overtaken by the two leaders of the rearguard. One secured tho pursued one's arms; tho other commenced to search his pockets, the while 14 shouting Chinese crowded round. Then, when a card was found in the pocket of tho runaway, the noise was terrific. Thp unfortunate ject of all the attention was knocked down, jostled, and kicked, to the aocompaniment of much ehouting. Somehow the main actor in the scene managed to clear himself from his attackers, and gibbering unintelligible words, darted like a hare down Emerscrh street through Clive square, and was seen no more. His pursuers did not continue the pursuit beyond tho square, and, after halting for a while, trailed back again.