ROLL OF HONOUR UNVEILED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17299, 26 April 1918, Page 7

ROLL OF HONOUR UNVEILED

CEREMONY AT KAITANGATA.

A very largo gathering of the residents of Kaitangata was hold in tlio local Athemeum yesterday afternoon for the purpose of unveiling a very handsome roll of honour that has boon presented to the borough by the New Zealand Goal and Oil Company, it being felt that Anzac Day provided a suitablo occasion for such a ceremony. The attedanco included most of the members of tlio Borough Council. The memorial contains the ii.uiies of 223 men from Kaitangata who have left Now Zealand as members of the forces, 30 of whom aro listed us having paid tho supreme sacrifico. At present tJiero remains to bo added tlio namo of Private Stan ley Ituthcrford, news of whoso death, has just been received. In addition to tho names tho board contains the following couplet:— On fame's eternal camping ground their silent tents are spread, And glory guards with solemn round the bivouac of tho dead.

After tho Mayor (Mr T. S. Cairns) had briefly explained the object of the gathering, Mr W. Carson (manager of the Kaitangata Coal mine) formally unveiled the roll of honour. lie then read a letter from Mr Robert Leo (general manager of the company), who stated! that the number of names on the board was a record the district might well be proud of, and his directors

felt it ;ui honour to present it to tlio borough of KaitiMigat.n., fooling that it would servo ;us an incentive to tlio younger p-cno-ration to follow in i.ho footsteps of those whose names were inscribed thereon. Mr Carson said Kaijangatu, had responded nobly to the Empire s call, and the mon had fought, and', in somo eases, given tlieir lives in the snored causo of liberty. 110 trusted their sacrilice would _ inspire ono and all to noble lives and heroic acts.

Mr Cairns then formally accepted tho. honour lx>ard on behalf of the citizens of Kaitangata. Tie said it would keep before their eyes for all time tho names of tho men who had responded to the Empire's call in lier time of need, and as the years went by it would increase in interest, and historic value. ITo desired to thank the Athcmemn Committee for permitting tho council to hang tho handsome memorial in the Atheiueuin, and he trusted tho people of Kaitangata would bestir themselves and erect a memorial hall where future presents of that kind could bo suitably housed. Mr W. Stephenson endorsed all that tho Mayor said said, and a short prayer was then offered up by tho Rev. R. M. G. M'Dowall. The gathering closed with tho singing of a verse of the National Anthem.