MEMORIAL TREE-PLANTING AT KAIKORAI.

Otago Witness, Issue 3415, 29 August 1919, Page 21

MEMORIAL TREE-PLANTING AT KAIKORAI.

To mark the end of the Great War Hi a office-bearers of the Kaikorai Prcsbyt'.vian Church decided to' plaint a number of memorial trees in the church grounds, A suitable service specially in honour of 25 men who have fallen out of the 74 on the church roll was held on Saturday afternoon. The moderator of the Assembly (the Rev* W. Gray Dixon) presided. Six war trees were planted, named respectively Gallipoli, Sbmme, Messmes, Passchendaele, Jerusalem, and. Bapauine, after places in some • of which boys from the congregation had fallen. The following parents were associated with the, planting: Messrs Sutherland and Hunter, Wardrop and Sinclair, Hosie and Thomson, Crockett and Gibb,' and Mrs G. S. Matheson and Miss Bartlett. Those assisting in the planting of one tree had lost no fewer than five sons. One tree named Jutland was also planted "to the men of the navy." This was assigned to the Mayor (Mr W. Begg} and the president of the Returned Soldiers Association (Dr Harrison). Dr Harrison paid a tribute to the returned men, and asked all to do what they could to help those who were less able to help themselves by their disablements suffered on our behalf. The children's " Peace" tree was then planted by the Sunday school superintendents (Mr J. W. Todd and Miss Christie). This tre3 is fittingly named Jerusalem. The Sunday school scholars participated by bringing daffodil bulbs and planting them at the foot of the trees. There were also planted three ministers' memorial trees to the Rev. William Alves (first minister), Alexander Blake (second minister), and R. R. M. Sutherand, who has now retiredOne tree was also planted to mark the new era in the congregation life in the calling of the Rev. ' William Ramsay Hutchison, who is now minister-elect of Kaikorai. The Rev. Mr Dixon referred to the happy idea of commemorating the services of those who had been privileged to minister to the people in' the early days of the church, and to the important place that trees take in the Sacred Scriptures as symbols of life and usefulness. Cr Douglas, who was present in place of tho Mayor, also spoke in a fitting manner of the men who had fought and died, and of our duty to them and their families. The Rev. W. R. Hutchison, referring to the New Zealand soldiers to whom he had been privileged to be a padre, 6poka of their courage and honour, and said it was counted by them blessed and honourable to die for one's native land. They died for great ideals, and it was ours to live for them and see that their memories would never fade. The Kaikorai School Band, under Mr J. H. Matheson, rendered several selections, and afternoon tea was dispensed to all by, the ladies of the congregation.