ANZAC ANNIVERSARY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 18991, 16 April 1936, Page 4

ANZAC ANNIVERSARY

WHANGARA HONOUR ROLL UNVEILING BY BISHOP LARUE NATIVE GATHERING A feature of the anniversary celebrations in Poverty Ray in connection with Anzac Day, oii Saturday week, will be the unveiling of a roll of honour in the Maori settlement at Whangara, and the holding of a special Anzac Day service by the Bishop of Aotearoa, the Rt. Rev. F. A. Bennett. Arrangements are being made by the Whangara natives to entertain a . largo gathering of Maoris and pakehas on this occasion, and invito: tions have been forwarded to the executive of the Gisborne Returned Soldiers Association, to district members of Parliament, and to chairmen and members of local bodies on the East Coast and in Poverty Bay.

The programme is being organised under the supervision of Messrs. Dan Tamararo, Pahau Milner, and J. P. Penis, and will commence at 10 a.m. on Anzac Day with a, reception ceremony, when the customary honours will be extended to the notables among the visitors to the settlement. At 11 a.m. the Bishop of Aotearoa will conduct Divine service, and diinngTChe interval in the service will unveil the roll of honour, on which is to be inscribed the names of Maori soldiers of the Whangara area who fought in the Great War: Preparations are being made to provide luncheon for all visitors after this service, and at 2 p.m. there will be a further gathering on the Whangara marae, for the discussion of matters affecting Maori veterans, and topics of general interest in connection with the Gallipoli anniversary. Though it is unfortunate that the Whangara ceremony has been fixed for an hour at which ex-service men of Gisborne will be holding their annual general meeting, the Gisborne Returned Soldiers' Association will be represented at the unveiling of the roll of honour at the native settlement and in the subsequent events of the day. It is understood that Maoris of the Coast have expressed a wish to reunite with the association and the New Zealand organisation of ex-servicemen, and this project doubtless will be discussed on the mai-ae after'the formal and religious observances are completed.

POPPY DAY SALES P.P.. DISTRICT CAMPAIGN Judging by the requisitions received from Coast and country centres', for poppy blooms for sale on Friday, April 24, the annual Poppy Day appeal should be as successful this year as last, if not more successful. The organisation ot sellers throughout the sub-association areas has been reported on most hopefully to the Gisborne Returned Soldiers' Association, which sponsors the appeal, and already it appeal's that the town sales will 'call for a special effort, in order that they should not be overshadowed by those made in the country and along the Coast.

As has been the case m most recent years, the association is experiencing difficulty in securing the services of a sufficient number of poppy sellers for the town area. All who may bo prepared to "assist the association in this connection will be welcomed, and even if the assistance is forthcoming for only an hour during the day, it should be most valuable. A number of ladies interested in the appeal have undertaken to make neighbourhood sales, covering areas adjacent to their own homes, and this should be a valuable adjunct to the general selling programme; but th*> great need is for helpers who will undertake to give an hour or two to street sales.

On more than one occasion in the post, the association has received information that people who wished to purchase poppy blooms had not had the opportunity of doing so. Jt is hoped that the number of helpers available.. this year will be adequate to deai with all sections of the town, so that none who wish to contribute to the funds will lack the chance. Those who are prepared to give assistance in the Poppy Day appeal should communicate with members of the Gisborne Ri.S.A executive or with the secretary, Mr. W. Oakdeu.