KAITANGATA NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3398, 30 April 1919, Page 23

KAITANGATA NEWS.

April 26. Anzac Day was celebrated in beautiful weather at Kaitangata on Friday afternoon. Led by the Municipal Band a parade of returned soldiers, Territorials, and Cadets marched to the public school grounds, where short addresses were delivered by the Mayor and local clergymen. Bandmaster W. G. M'Dougall sounded- the "Last Post" in honour of the fallen. There was a good attendance of the publio and school children, Business places were closed, and at the mines a half-holiday was observed by all but»a very small percentage of the -employees. At a returned soldiers' social, held at Kaitangata on Friday evening, the Mayor (Mr T. S. Cairns), whose term of office expires in a few days, was presented with a serviceable travelling bag as a token of appreciation for his many services in the interests of the soldiers and their dependents. Mr Cairns, in his' reply, referred to the fine spirit which had carried so many Kaitangata men to the field of battle and the ready assistance on the part of the local people given to the fighting men. The recipient remarked that the worst feature in connection with war time at Kaitangata was the number of men —strangers to mining pursuits—who came to the town to shelter under the exemption clauses of the Act, and these men were first in the cry for higher wages, but were last or entirely wanting when a few shillings were wanted to assist the soldiers or their dependents. . During the evening various toasts were honoured, and a programme of songs and recitations was much appreciated.