ANZAC DAY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19465, 28 April 1925, Page 4

ANZAC DAY.

COMMEMORATION SERVICES An' impressive and inspiring commemorative service was held in the Sawyers’ Bay Hall on Saturday evening. There was a very large gathering, and Mr E. Laley presided. The service was conducted right through with tne lantern, slides being.used in connection with each item of the programme. Suitable hymns were sung by the audience, and the Scripture readings were read by Messrs H. Hudson end A. Chisholm. A trio, “'Hie Soldier’s Farewell/’ was capably rendered by Messrs Kettle, Booth, and Latta, and Mr L. Booth sang “The Recessional.” Mr Pithie read the roll of honour; Miss C. Aburn gave as a recitation ‘‘The Gallipoli Graves”; Mrs A.. Sykes rendered very impressively the solo ‘‘Abide With Me,” and Miss Finlay acted as accompanist at the piano. The story of the “Anzacs at Gallipoli” was told by Mr T. A. Finlay, bead master of the school. It was illustrated by a large and interesting set of pictures, several of which had been specially made for the occasion.. These included subjects of local interest, and a number of the Gallipoli graves and monuments. The service commenced with the National Anthem, and concluded with the New Zealand Anthem. A large gathering assembled at the Fallen Soldiers’ Monument at Waitati to take part in a memorial service on Anzac morning. The service was conducted by Mr J. H. Combes, and the singing was led by Mr Muir. After appropriate hymns _ and prayer, Mr Schroeder paid tribute in a brief address to the splendid courage and self-sacrifice of those who had gone to fight for their country and to those who had fallen. Mr Combes prefaced his address by saying that he dared not dedicate that solemn day to a glorification of war. In the name of comradeship and loyalty he bared :his head in tribute to the memory of the thousands who bad made a supreme gift to- this land. They had made it a bigger' land, not only in that they had extended its bounds to many a corner of some foreign land that should bo forever part of this, but also in that they had created a tradition of fulfilment, of duty at the cost of self-sacrifice. We would not wish to build a race of warriors, thirsting for war and eagerly awaiting the day of battle, but we would wish to build a virile manhood capable when stem necessity demanded of emulating them in spirit and achievement. He urged that a fitting tribute to, the fallen demanded a constant and unremitting care of those who hau returned bearing honourable scars, and whose disabilities required something more than pity.,.. For the relatives of the fallen he prayhid f in the words of Abram Lincoln “that our Heavenly Father may assauge their'grief and leave them only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be theirs to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.” We dedicated this day, said Mr Combes, to the cause of peace to which the fallen had given themselves. Many fine floral tributes were laid on the steps of the monument, and the benediction and National Anthem concluded a simple and impressive ceremony. Anzac. Day was commemorated in Naseby by an impressive service at the War Memorial in the afternoon. The. Naseby Band, under Mr' Robertshaw’s leadership, opened with the National Anthem, following which the hymn “0 God Our Help In Ages Past” was sung most reverently. ■ The retiring Mayor, apologising for the absence of the Mayor-elect, then addressed the audience, followed, by the Rev. C. W. Foreman, who read a portion of Scripture, the address being given by the Rev. D. M'Kenzie, with a delivery which made a deep impression upon his hearers. Other hymns were: “Lead, Kindly Light.” and “Lest We Forget.” At the conclusion the band played the “Dead March,” in “Saul,” whilst the school children filed oast and placed a number of wreaths upon the monument. The whole ceremony was most reverent and impressive. In the evening a similar nnjted service was held in the Town Hall, when there was a good attendance. The principal address, which was most inspiring, was' given by the C. W. Foreman. An impressive Anzac Day service was held at Green Island. The returned soldiers in mufti and the members of the friendly societies in regalia assembled at the Council Chambers, and, led by the Green Island Brass Band marched to tne Public Hall, where the service was held. Proceedings were commenced with the singing of the National Anthem, then the hymn “Lest We Forget” was sang, and- Scripture was read by Captain Hullet, of the Salvation Army, after which the Rev. Mr Wills led ' the assembly in prayer. An address was given by .the Rev. Mr Ewart, and the band rendered “Land of Hope and Glory,” Mr J. M’Gee being the soloist. The roll of honour was read by Mr A. E. Borley, those present standing in silence. A solo “Into Thy Hands” was given by Mr A. S. Burke. The band then played “The Dead March,” in “Saul,” and wreaths were placed on the table. The hymn “Nearer My God To Thee” was sung, and the chairman (Mr Tomkins) made a few suitable remarks, referring feelingly to the late Lieutenant C. Davidson. “0 God Our Help in Ages Past” was ’next sung, followed by the National Anthem, and the proceedings in the hall closed with the Benediction, pronounced by the Rev. Mr Jvilpatrick. The procession then marched to the school, where some of the wreaths were placed at the foot of the memorial, and-- the remainder on Lieutenant Davidson’s grave. A combined service was hold on Anzac Day in the Palmerston Town Hall. There was a very large attendance, and addresses were delivered by the Rev. Mr Chisholm (Pres'byterian) the Rev. Mr Richards (Church of England), and the Salvation Army captain. MEMORIAL UNVEILED. (Per United Press Association.) THAMES, April 27. An impressive Anzac Day service was held on Saturday afternoon, when Major Andrews, officer commanding the district, unveiled a memorial on the hill overlooking the town and harbour, which cost £2040, subscribed by the residents. The weather was line, and there was a large attendance. OBSERVANCE AT TAURANGA. (Per United Press Association.) TAURANGA, April 27. Anzac Day was celebrated on Saturday. As usual, a combined service was hold in toe Town Hall, and was largely attended. Many wreaths were placed on the cenotaph outside the hall, and were afterwards transferred to the graves of returned soldiers. A MEMORIAL CHURCH. (Per United Press Association.) GISBORNE. April 27. At the Maori hni at Tikitiki on Anzac Day the sum of £2IOO was contributed to the cost of the memorial church. CEREMONIES IN LONDON. -r-N IMPRESSIVE SILENCE. Press Association —By Tcleirranh—CopyrighE LONDON, April l 26. There'was a procession through the Anzac graves at Walton-on-Thames, Sir James Allen who was accompanied bv Generals Sir Andrew Russell and Sir Edward Chaytor, thanked the people of Walton-on-Tharaes for their care of the gravers and the kindne.-s shown to Now Zealand boys in England, which was remembered with great thankfulness by the mothers and people of New Zealand. Thousands of men and women from Yorkshire and Wales, who had arrived in I,ondon to attend the Cup Final, wearing football colours ranged on both sides of the road. All were reverent and quiet, contrasting with the previous hilarity and excitement. While journeying through the streets in ehar-a-bancs and on foot they defied weirdly-coloured hats, but the sudden silence, the ceased fire of rattles, and the hushing of the clamorous voices were more impressive than any organised demonstration of respect. The crowd waited all the morning with bunches of flowers, including scores of buttonholes plucked impulsively from the coat lapels of the wearers, laying them at the fool of the Cenotaph. At the service in St. Clement Danes, dm mg the singing of “.Tesu. lover of mv soul.” me-servicemen placed wreaths on fh n war shrine, after which the Anzac hymn, “Father, King Immortal.” sung, followed by a solo. “Abide With Me,” and “The Last Post.” Tie ceremony concluded with I'm playing of Chopin’s Funeral March bv the organist. —Reuter and A. and N.Z. Cables. PICTURESQUE CEREMONY AT SHANGHAI. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. PEKING,. April 25. In the presence of 40 Australians this morning Surgeon-captain W. E. O’Hara and Captain A. W. Cook, who were on Gallipoli, laid an Anzac wreath on the war memorial monument in the" Bund, at Shanghai. The. scene was as picturesque as a mixed river traffic, and a queer medley of rushing vehicles passing closely alongside slowed down while the little band paid homage to tho dead.-mA, and N.Z, Cable.